Ornamento delle belle & virtuose donne, page 8 (verso) 1554

This is page 8 from "Ornamento delle belle & virtuose donne," printed in Venice by Matteo Pagano. The woodcut presents patterns for lacemaking, a craft laden with symbolism for women of the time. Note the geometric patterns; recurring motifs that echo across cultures and centuries. The lozenge shape, for instance, appears as a symbol of fertility in ancient art, and here, it is abstracted, reformed within the grid of the pattern. Consider too the cross motif, a shape weighted with religious significance, transformed into a decorative element within a domestic craft. These patterns, born from the practical art of lacemaking, became carriers of cultural memory. Passed down through generations, each stitch echoes earlier forms, demonstrating the resilience of symbols that persist, evolving in meaning, yet still resonating with primal human experiences. The emotional resonance lies in their connection to the past, engaging viewers on a subconscious level. Like a labyrinth, these shapes are more than meets the eye.