Letter Q c. 16th century

Curator: Here we have "Letter Q," an anonymous print from the Harvard Art Museums collection. Look closely at how the stark black ink defines this ornate initial. Editor: It feels like a tiny world, a miniature garden contained within that letter. Curator: Exactly! These initial letters were often embedded with complex symbolic layers. As a visual marker, a bold letter like this signals a beginning. Editor: I keep thinking about how the anonymous artist poured intention into such a small space. It’s almost meditative, like a tiny spell. Curator: Well said. Initial letters throughout manuscripts provided opportunities to reinforce power structures, religious beliefs, and social norms. Editor: A spell for literacy, for knowledge, and maybe, just maybe, for quiet rebellion. Curator: A fitting note to end on, that these objects can contain a beautiful tension. Editor: Right, a small window into immense ideas.