Schon newes Modelbuch...Page 13(r) 1617

Curator: The detail in this 1617 engraving is stunning, especially considering its function. This is "Schon newes Modelbuch...Page 13(r)" by Sigismundus Latomus. These model books were meant to be patterns for artisans and embroiderers, imagine crafting using such an intricate guide! Editor: The immediate impact is this sense of dense, almost overwhelming ornamentation. There’s a very strong black and gold contrast. Each discrete section teems with unique motifs. What organizing principles would you say structure the image? Curator: I think a strong structure arises through Latomus's application of line, the very rigorous geometry underpinning all those motifs you mention. We have bands, grids, repeated units...consider that top left panel, for instance. Note the echoing arches above and below a central frieze containing both animal and figural subjects. There’s an incredibly tight system of internal rhymes there. Editor: The density certainly speaks to the era's approach to design. But think about the labour involved, the transfer of such detailed patterns, the close work to replicate it onto fabric, maybe with silk or metal threads. There's a very tactile element to the intention of the work. It speaks to a collaborative network of production involving many hands. Curator: Certainly the repetitive designs indicate something geared towards widespread application; perhaps their meaning is diminished in the process? Or instead augmented through broad distribution and reiteration? One wonders about the effect that widespread availability might have on societal aesthetics. Editor: That it democratizes access to beautiful design…perhaps diminishes it in certain exclusive social circles. I see it primarily as giving artisans a shared visual language, almost like a maker's version of today’s stock imagery. Its value exists more in how it was put to use, the various iterations in material, context and function it went through. Curator: Yes, thinking of the life of each image element that Latomus rendered helps it move beyond a simple composition. This detailed surface has such complex origins and anticipated trajectories. Editor: For me, reflecting on this engraving underscores the often-unseen labour inherent in the objects around us. Thank you for this consideration!