Newes Modelbuch in Kupffer (Page 54r) 1604

This is a page from Johann Sibmacher's "Newes Modelbuch," created sometime around 1600. It's made with ink on paper, using a printing process called engraving. These aren't meant to be artworks in themselves. Rather, they’re designs for textiles, embroideries, and other decorative arts. The book was one of many pattern books circulated in early modern Europe, which were a vital link in the chain of production. They transmitted visual ideas from artist to artisan. Looking closely, you can see the kind of work that would go into producing these patterns: the careful incision of lines into a copper plate, the inking, and the printing. This page offered a range of geometric motifs. It enabled makers to produce beautiful objects that we might today consider applied art. It reminds us that creativity is often a collective endeavor. The circulation of these books helped to establish a shared visual culture, and sustained countless skilled artisans and designers.