Letter L c. 16th century

Editor: This is a collection of initial letters, simply titled "Letter L", artist unknown, in the Harvard Art Museums. They have a striking graphic quality, almost like little illuminated stamps. What might be the historical context for creating initials like these? Curator: Well, these initials reflect a specific set of cultural and institutional values around literacy and religion. The use of elaborate initials was integral to medieval manuscripts, wasn't it? How might the rise of printing have impacted the function and reception of such elaborate letterforms? Editor: I suppose printing democratized access, moving these initials away from sacred texts to potentially more secular uses. Curator: Exactly. Consider too the power dynamics at play. Who commissioned and consumed these manuscripts and, later, prints? Reflecting on this piece made me think about shifting accessibility to art. Editor: Absolutely, a fascinating evolution. Thanks!