Initial S c. 16th century

Curator: This is a woodcut, titled "Initial S," housed here at the Harvard Art Museums. The artist is anonymous, and its date is unknown. Editor: It has a primal, almost mystical feel, wouldn’t you say? The stark contrast, the stylized foliage—it whispers of ancient alphabets and hidden meanings. Curator: Absolutely. Initial letters like this were instrumental in medieval illuminated manuscripts, setting the tone for the text to follow. Editor: The negative space forms a graceful, swooping figure—maybe a bird in flight, or a serpent coiling around a branch? It leaves so much to the imagination. Curator: The blocky, graphic nature of the woodcut lends it a certain weight, a feeling of permanence despite its small size. Editor: It's like a miniature portal—a glimpse into a world where letters aren’t just symbols, but living things. Curator: Indeed, and this "S," wherever it first appeared, likely marked the beginning of a significant passage. Editor: It makes you wonder about the stories it helped tell, the secrets it helped keep.