La Vera Perfettione del Disegno di varie sorti di recami, page 3 (verso) 1567

This is an engraving by Giovanni Ostaus, titled “La Vera Perfettione del Disegno di varie sorti di recami”, made circa 1600. The book’s page is dominated by dense blocks of text, organized with a rigid, grid-like structure. The texture created by the letterpress printing gives the page a tactile quality, emphasizing its material presence. The uniform lines of text are interrupted by an ornate initial capital, which disrupts the otherwise unwavering grid. This initial adds a touch of visual complexity and invites the reader into the text. The design, through its emphasis on structured text and the interplay between uniformity and ornamentation, reflects the intellectual and artistic values of its time. The book, a practical manual for embroidery patterns, embodies a dialogue between structure and creativity, echoing broader philosophical concerns about order, design and the possibilities of human ingenuity.