Essempio di recammi, page 2 (recto) 1530

This is page 2 from “Essempio di recammi,” by Giovanni Antonio Tagliente, made in Venice in the 16th century. This small, unassuming book is a portal into the domestic lives of Renaissance women. During this time, embroidery was not merely a pastime but a critical skill, a form of cultural expression, and sometimes, a subversive act. Pattern books like these allowed women, often excluded from formal education and artistic training, to engage with design and creation. Through needlework, they could adorn their homes and clothing, expressing their identities and social standing in a world that often sought to silence them. The geometric patterns within this page are more than just decorative; they are a testament to the quiet power of women's work, each stitch a small act of resistance against the constraints of their era. "Essempio di recammi" invites us to reflect on the intricate ways in which women have historically navigated and negotiated their roles in society.