Gemma pretiosa della virtuose donne, page 11 (recto) 1625

This is a page from "Gemma pretiosa della virtuose donne," or "The Precious Gem of Virtuous Women," printed in Venice in the early 17th century by Isabella Catanea Parasole. It is an instructional manual, meant to teach women the art of lacemaking. The image is a woodcut, a relatively simple process by which an image is carved in relief on a block of wood, which is then inked and printed. You can see the characteristic graphic quality of this technique, with its strong contrasts and textures. The pattern here is carefully composed, its repeating motifs creating a sense of rhythm and balance. Look closely, and you can see that it simulates the intricate structures that can be achieved with a needle and thread. Parasole wasn’t just an artist; she was also an entrepreneur who understood the value of design. Lacemaking was a valuable skill in this period and this book offered women a means to participate in the economic sphere, creating valuable objects for the marketplace. This page, therefore, represents more than just a pattern, it speaks to the intersection of craft, commerce, and female empowerment in the early modern world.