Ghirlanda: Di sei vaghi fiori scielti da piu famosi Giardini d'Italia, page 5 (verso) 1604

This is a page from 'Ghirlanda: Di sei vaghi fiori scielti da piu famosi Giardini d'Italia', made around 1620 by Pietro Paulo Tozzi. The book is made of paper and ink, with an elaborate letterpress. This method, using movable type, allowed for the relatively quick and standardized production of books. The texture of the paper, its weave and the way it absorbs ink, all influence the appearance of the text. Look closely, and you'll see the pressure of the printing process in the slight indentations around each character. The letterpress was a revolutionary technology, and the standardization that came with it was transformative. It also created a new kind of labor. By understanding the methods used in the production of this book, we come to appreciate not only its aesthetic qualities but also its historical importance. It's a reminder that even the most refined objects are rooted in the world of materials, making, and labor.