Lucidario di Recami, page 4 (verso) 1564

This is page four from Iseppo Foresto's "Lucidario di Recami," created around the mid-16th century using woodcut in Italy. At first glance, the dense interplay of black lines against the off-white paper creates a striking visual texture, both decorative and functional. Note how Foresto employs a grid structure as the foundation for his elaborate patterns. This underlying order is crucial: it offers a framework upon which more organic and curvilinear motifs can playfully interact. The tension between the rigidity of the grid and the fluid, almost whimsical nature of the interwoven knots and foliage creates a dynamic visual dialogue. Consider the way the artist uses positive and negative space. The black lines define shapes, but equally important is the unprinted space that breathes life into the design, allowing the eye to navigate this complex composition. This interplay challenges any singular, fixed reading, instead inviting ongoing visual exploration and interpretation.