Corona delle Nobili et Virtuose Donne: Libro I-IV, page 104 (recto) 1601

This is a page from Cesare Vecellio's "Corona delle Nobili et Virtuose Donne," printed sometime in the late 16th century. It's made using a woodcut technique, a relatively accessible form of printing at the time. Look closely, and you can see how the graphic patterns emerge from a field of black ink on the page. The repetitive patterns, with their geometric precision, suggest the influence of lace making. The page shows various designs, almost like templates, that could be used for needlepoint lace, or "Punto in Aria." Such pattern books reflect the intense labor involved in textile production. Lace was highly valued, a marker of status. It's intriguing to consider how these printed designs democratized access to elaborate patterns, even if the work of creating the lace itself remained a painstaking, specialized craft. Vecellio's book beautifully illustrates the intersection of design, craft, and social aspiration in the Renaissance. It also challenges our contemporary sense of value, by reminding us of the considerable skill involved in pre-industrial modes of production.