Letter P c. 16th century

Editor: Here we have Letter P, by an anonymous artist. It's a small block print, densely packed with foliage surrounding the letter. What can you tell me about the context this work might have been created in? Curator: Consider how literacy itself has been a tool of power. Who had access to printed materials? How does the ornamentation influence the letter's role? Editor: So, the artistry isn't just decorative but linked to access and power? Curator: Precisely. Think about the ways in which marginalized communities have historically been denied access to literacy and how that denial has perpetuated social inequalities. This "P" speaks to a different story, doesn't it? Editor: Definitely gives me a new way to look at something as simple as a letter. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure. It's about seeing the hidden narratives in art, always.