Le Pompe: Opera Nova, page 8 (verso) 1557

This page, by Giovanni Battista and Marchio Sessa, is a woodcut from an instructional manual showing patterns for lacemaking. The graphic quality comes from the nature of wood as a material. The block would have been painstakingly carved to create the pattern in relief. This manual provided inspiration for lacemakers, who were highly skilled artisans. Lacemaking was closely tied to the fashion industry of the time. Pattern books like this spread ideas and techniques, and in turn increased the demand for luxury textiles. It also brought an organization to the trade. The imagery demonstrates a move towards accessibility in the arts. These patterns were a democratization of design, and the book itself was a commodity responding to the rise of a consumer society. The repetitive and methodical work is a striking example of craft's relationship to commerce and social life.