Gemma pretiosa della virtuose donne, page 23 (recto) 1625

This page, created by Isabella Catanea Parasole, dates back to around the year 1600. It's an instructional pattern printed with a woodblock on paper. The stark contrast between the black ink and the paper gives the design a graphic punch. But its real power lies in what it represents: an instruction for "quadra" or square needlework, made to empower women through craft. Parasole wasn't just an artist; she was a businesswoman who understood the potential of printed media. Her pattern books democratized intricate designs, making them accessible to a wider audience. The grid-like structure speaks to the patience and precision required for needlework, but it also reflects the controlled, repetitive labor that defined much of women's work at the time. Parasole elevated needlework from a domestic task to a skilled art, intertwining aesthetics with the realities of labor and the social fabric of her time.