Pretiosa Gemma delle virtuose donne, page 34 (recto) 1600

This is a page from "Pretiosa Gemma delle virtuose donne", made by Isabella Catanea Parasole around the turn of the 17th century. It's a woodcut, meaning that the design was carved in relief on a block of wood, and then printed onto paper. Look closely, and you can appreciate the labor involved. Each line had to be carefully incised, in reverse, demanding both precision and patience. This wasn't fine art, but a pattern book aimed at women embroiderers, providing them with new ideas for their needlework. Notice how the patterns are geometric and stylized. These are not direct copies from nature but rather designs generated through mindful hand work. In its day, such a book would have been a means of disseminating design ideas across Europe, influencing the production of textiles and other luxury goods. So, we can see it as an early example of industrial design, tied to the rise of consumer culture. By considering the labor and social context embedded in these artworks, we gain a richer understanding of their cultural significance, challenging the traditional hierarchy between art and craft.