Letter H c. 16th century

Curator: This striking woodcut print, titled "Letter H," is held here at the Harvard Art Museums and created by an anonymous artist. The piece is a study in contrasts. Editor: It feels like an old story, maybe a fairytale, caught in a tangle of thorny vines—all sharp edges and dramatic shadows. Curator: Right. The letter itself acts as a framework, but it’s almost overwhelmed by the ornamentation. Consider the historical context: initial letters like this often signaled the start of important texts, reinforcing power structures. Editor: So, this ornate “H” isn’t just decorative. It’s making a statement about hierarchy, about who gets to write the story—literally shaping the narrative. Curator: Precisely. Even in its anonymity, it carries the weight of cultural authority. Editor: I see it! Maybe the artist is trying to question those very structures through the subversive chaos of the vines. Food for thought, indeed. Curator: It does give one a great deal to consider.