Initial E 15th-16th century

Curator: This is an intriguing little print called “Initial E,” an anonymous work held here at the Harvard Art Museums. It's a woodcut, judging from the crisp lines, and depicts the letter 'E' interwoven with figures. Editor: The immediate impression is one of playful chaos! We have babies, a bird, a sword… it's quite densely packed. Curator: Indeed. Initial letters were often adorned in this way, blurring the boundaries between text and image. Consider the social function: literacy was limited, so such images conveyed cultural narratives. Editor: I'm fascinated by how the artist depicts gender here. The cherubic figures, though seemingly innocent, reflect societal expectations. Note the distinct lack of female representation, furthering the patriarchy. Curator: But what purpose did these images play? As a historian, I think about the book as a physical object: how this illuminated "E" enhanced its cultural value, its role in the transmission of knowledge. Editor: Precisely. We must also challenge whose knowledge was being transmitted, and whose voices were being silenced in the process. Curator: Good point. It certainly gives us much to consider. Editor: Absolutely, a small letter that prompts big questions.