Esemplario di Lauori..., page 3 (recto) 1532

This is a page from Giovanni Andrea Vavassore's "Esemplario di Lauori...", a book of embroidery patterns, printed in Venice, sometime in the mid-16th century. Notice the prevalence of the cross motif embedded within each band of geometric designs. The cross, a symbol of sacrifice and redemption, speaks to the deeply ingrained religious sentiments of the time. But look closer, and you will see this isn’t the last time we find it: the cross resurfaces in countless forms across cultures and epochs, from early Christian art to the elaborate tapestries of the Middle Ages. Consider the emotional weight these symbols carry. Generations of artisans pour their hopes, fears, and beliefs into each stitch, creating a powerful connection across time. Even today, we respond to these ancient symbols on a subconscious level, feeling the echoes of the past resonating within us. The cross endures, evolving, transforming, yet always reminding us of our shared human experience.