Head- or Tail-piece c. 16th century

Curator: Here we have "Head- or Tail-piece" by an anonymous artist, residing in the Harvard Art Museums. It's a small, intriguing image. Editor: My first thought is, what a quirky bird! Is it a phoenix, perhaps? It has this strange, almost comical, dignity. Curator: It does have a mythical air. These pieces often appeared at the beginning or end of chapters, so this bird might be a symbolic guardian of knowledge. Editor: Or maybe it's just a fancy doodle? I love the simplicity, the stark contrast of the black lines on the creamy paper. It’s like a secret whispered on parchment. Curator: It reminds us that even the smallest artistic gesture can carry meaning, that art exists in the margins, too, shaping how we encounter information. Editor: Exactly, it makes me wonder about all the other forgotten images quietly influencing our perceptions, like silent storytellers. Curator: A fitting end to our discussion, don't you think?