Studio delle virtuose Dame, page 35 (recto) 1597

This is page 35 from *Studio delle virtuose Dame*, made by Isabella Catanea Parasole around 1600 using woodcut and letterpress. The immediate impression is one of structured complexity, created through a high-contrast pattern of geometric forms. Circles, squares, and rectangles interlock within a rigid grid, producing a visually compelling design. Parasole used a restricted visual vocabulary to explore the potential of pattern making. This work reflects a broader artistic and philosophical interest in the underlying structures that govern visual experience. The black ink and blocky shapes form a semiotic system, inviting us to decode the underlying order. The design seems to challenge any fixed, singular meaning, instead emphasizing repetition and variation. Ultimately, the strict geometric forms function not only aesthetically but also as part of a cultural discourse on beauty, order, and the mathematical underpinnings of design during the Renaissance. This artwork encourages ongoing interpretation and re-interpretation.