Pretiosa Gemma delle virtuose donne, page 17 (recto) 1600

This is a page from “Pretiosa Gemma delle virtuose donne,” or “Precious Gem of Virtuous Women,” printed in Venice by Isabella Catanea Parasole. It’s a woodcut, a relatively accessible form of printing at the time, where an image is carved in relief on a block of wood, inked, and then printed. The visual impact of this page is less about the intrinsic quality of the material, and more about the skill and labor involved in its making. Woodcuts like this one were used as pattern books for lace makers. “Punto reticella” refers to a specific type of needle lace, and the designs here are intricate and geometric, demanding considerable dexterity. The stark black and white contrast emphasizes the precision required in both the woodcutting and the lacemaking. This book, and others like it, highlights the intersection of art, craft, and commerce in the 16th and 17th centuries. It reminds us that what we now call ‘craft’ – like lacemaking - was once a highly valued skill, central to the economy and culture. And that artworks like this one were not just beautiful objects, but also practical tools that shaped creative practices of the time.