Ce est ung tractat de la noble art de leguille ascavoir ouvraiges de spaigne... page 2 (recto) 1527 - 1540

This is a page from "Ce est ung tractat de la noble art de leguille ascavoir ouvraiges de spaigne..." made by Willem Vosterman. What strikes you first is likely the structured arrangement of the designs; each is neatly stacked, a series of patterns unfolding in a rhythmic sequence. Notice how Vosterman uses the grid as a basic unit to explore infinite permutations. The patterns are not merely decorative but function as a visual language, playing with positive and negative space. The variations within each pattern can be seen as signifiers in a semiotic system, where each shift in line or shape contributes to a broader dialogue. These patterns evoke the structuralist idea that underlying structures govern surface appearances. The artist is inviting us to decode the system, pushing us to see beyond mere aesthetics. In its time, this subverted traditional, fixed notions of artistry and authorship by presenting a manual for others to reproduce and modify.