Les Secondes Oeuvres, et Subtiles Inventions De Lingerie du Seigneur Federic de Vinciolo Venitien, page 9 (recto) 1603

This is a page from a book created in Venice in the late 16th century by Federico de Vinciolo, using ink on paper. It’s an intricate design, meant to be used as a template for needle lace. Look closely, and you'll see the design is made up of many tiny repeated motifs – suns, wheels, rosettes, and even skulls. All rendered in high contrast. The design’s visual impact relies entirely on the skilled application of ink, and the precise carving of the printing block used to create the image. Books like this were pattern books, and were crucial in standardizing and spreading design ideas across Europe. Lace making was a highly skilled, highly valued form of labor, mostly done by women. This was before industrialization, so the production of luxury goods like lace was intricately bound to handcraft and manual dexterity. The pattern itself signifies the connection between the fine arts and the wider world of craft. Considering its materials, making, and context allows us to fully appreciate the artistry embedded in this seemingly simple page.