A piece of writing or speech at the beginning of a work of art is the

A piece of writing or speech at the beginning of a work of art is called the prologue. A prologue is typically used in literature, theater, or film to provide important background information or to establish the tone of the work. It is often written by the author, playwright, or director and is intended to set the stage for the rest of the work. A prologue can be in the form of a poem, a speech, or a narrative and serves as an introduction to the main story or plot.