Schön Neues Modelbuch (Page 33 recto) 1597

This is page 33 from the Schön Neues Modelbuch, or ‘Beautiful New Pattern Book’, made around 1600 by Johann Sibmacher. It's an instruction manual printed with woodcut, demonstrating patterns for needlework and lace. These books were luxury goods, aimed at wealthy women of the rising merchant classes in southern Germany. In the early modern period, as new industries were developing, these classes began to challenge the traditional dominance of the aristocracy. Pattern books like these became a way for women to participate in the culture of the time. By purchasing the books and learning the techniques, they could create clothing and household items that reflected their own status and taste. As historians, we can look at account books, inventories, and other records to understand the social and economic context of these images. We can see how art is not just about aesthetics, but also about power, class, and social change.