New Modelbüch (Page 18r) 1615

This page comes from a book made by Andreas Bretschneider, a German artist who died in 1645. It's made with ink on paper. But what really makes it interesting is how it connects to craft and labor. This isn't just fine art; it's a "model book," intended to be used by other makers. The designs could be copied by goldsmiths, textile workers, or anyone needing a pattern. The very act of drawing these designs was a form of skilled labor. Bretschneider wasn't just an artist, but a facilitator, providing the raw material for other artisans. Look closely and imagine the textures, the weight of the gold, or the weave of the fabric these patterns might adorn. Consider the countless hours of labor that would go into bringing them to life. By understanding its original purpose, we can move beyond the page itself and appreciate the world of making it enabled.