Convivio delle Belle Donne, page 7 (recto) 1532

This is page 7 from ‘Convivio delle Belle Donne,’ printed by Nicolò Zoppino in Venice. It’s a woodcut, a relatively accessible printmaking technique that allowed for the wide distribution of images and patterns like this one. The design imitates lace, a textile which was highly valued in the 16th century. Lace was made by hand, a laborious and time-consuming process, so printed pattern books like this allowed amateur lacemakers to imitate professional designs. Consider the skill and labor that goes into making lace; it can be hard to imagine today, when so much of our clothing is mass-produced. The grid-like structure of the pattern reflects the structure of the textile itself, each square representing a stitch. The strong contrast between black and white allows for a clear understanding of how to form the pattern. Printed patterns like this are also important for thinking about gender and labor, as lace making was primarily a domestic pursuit for women. This book then, is a fascinating artifact of the history of craft, design, and the everyday lives of women in the Renaissance.