Remember the Hand

Exploring the unique manuscripts from northern Iberian Christian monasteries in the tenth and eleventh centuries, this work reveals how scribes actively engage with their readers. These richly illuminated codices feature scribes who name and portray themselves, emphasizing the intimate connection between authors, scribes, patrons, and readers. By likening writing to agricultural and textile work, the scribes invite readers to appreciate the labor behind the text. This study highlights the profound relationship between the material book and the act of reading, urging us to remember the human effort involved.