Lucidario di Recami, page 2 (verso) 1564

This is page two of "Lucidario di Recami," a design book made in Venice by Iseppo Foresto around the mid-16th century, using woodcut printing. The grid underneath the drawing is the key here. See how the sinuous, organic forms are mapped precisely onto this framework? This wasn’t intended as a work of art, but rather as a pattern for needleworkers to follow. It’s a fascinating example of translating artistic vision into a format that others can then realize through skillful labor. Printing made the designs widely accessible, fueling the fashion for elaborate embroidery. The grid makes the process feel somehow democratic. Anyone, in theory, could execute these designs. But the skills involved shouldn't be underestimated. It took many hours to create textiles like this, often by women working within the home. So, while the "Lucidario di Recami" democratized design, it was still reliant on traditional hierarchies of labor to come to life.