Libro quarto. De rechami per elquale se impara in diuersi modi lordine e il modo de recamare...Opera noua, page 15 (recto) 1532

This is a page from ‘Libro quarto,’ a book of embroidery patterns printed in Venice in the early 16th century by Alessandro Paganino. It’s a woodcut, meaning the design was carved in relief on a block of wood, inked, and then printed onto paper. The patterns here aren't abstract; they show organic forms such as vines and leaves, presented as a band and within a border. The process of woodcutting lends itself to bold outlines and a graphic quality. The original would have been a mirror image. This printmaking method allowed for the widespread dissemination of designs. Consider how this book democratized access to sophisticated patterns. Embroidery was a skilled occupation, but pattern books like this one allowed more people to participate, influencing fashion and domestic aesthetics. It’s a beautiful example of how the industrial process of printing could make craft skills more accessible, blurring the lines between high art, craft, and commerce.