Esemplario di lavori, page 4 (verso) 1529

This is page 4 from "Esemplario di lavori," or "A sample of Works," made by Nicolò Zoppino in Venice, using woodcut printmaking. Zoppino was a printer and bookseller, and his "Esemplario" includes a series of elaborate patterns intended as inspiration for lacemakers and embroiderers. The designs include many variations, all densely packed. The repeating motifs demonstrate the ingenuity needed to translate this vision into thread. The linear nature of the print, with its graphic contrast, also simulates the appearance of lace, with its rhythmic voids and robust structure. Woodcut printmaking, a relatively accessible medium, allowed for mass production of these designs, expanding the audience for pattern books. This speaks to the increasingly important role of women in the economy, and the premium placed on artisanal skills. Looking closely at the material reality of this print, and its intended use, allows us to appreciate the interplay between art, craft, labor, and commerce in Renaissance Venice.