Ce est ung tractat de la noble art de leguille ascavoir ouvraiges de spaigne... page 14 (recto) 1527 - 1540

Editor: So, this is a page from "Ce est ung tractat de la noble art de leguille ascavoir ouvraiges de spaigne...," dating back to somewhere between 1527 and 1540, by Willem Vosterman. It's an engraving that seems to depict a geometric pattern. It almost feels like an early computer matrix or a woven textile design, though very rigid. What is the cultural significance here? Curator: What strikes me most about this image is the radical accessibility of craft. Consider the historical context: this was a time of enormous social stratification. But this print offered a kind of democratization of design, giving access to intricate patterns. Can you imagine the impact of such a manual available to those traditionally excluded from artistic training? It’s a subtle form of resistance, don't you think? A quiet subversion through the needle and thread. Editor: I never thought about it that way! So it’s not just about the aesthetic design but about empowerment? The geometric print democratizing textile patterns that had been historically available to elite classes. Curator: Precisely! This book challenged pre-existing assumptions. How does craft – historically gendered as feminine – intersect with early capitalist forms of knowledge production? Also think about Spain's role as a colonizing force; the "Spanish" needlework could indicate an appropriation, how do we engage with the politics of design appropriation and cultural exchange? Editor: So it invites us to consider intersections of craft, gender, capitalism, and colonialism. This changes everything I thought I knew. Curator: These seemingly simple geometric patterns open up these complexities when we examine historical and political contexts. Editor: Thank you. I will never see needlepoint the same way!