Teatro delle Nobili et Virtuose Donne..., page 9 (recto) 1616

Isabella Catanea Parasole created this woodcut design for needle lace in Italy, around the turn of the 17th century. It is one of many patterns in her book, "Teatro delle Nobili et Virtuose Donne," a title that speaks to the gendered division of labor and the roles women were expected to occupy. The image itself is a dense, repeating pattern of geometric and floral motifs, typical of the "punto reticella" style. This was a popular form of lace, often used to adorn clothing and household linens of the upper classes. The publication of such pattern books reflects the growth of the printing industry and its impact on the dissemination of design. It also reveals the increasing importance of fashion and luxury goods in the economy of Renaissance Europe. Moreover, Parasole's book suggests a growing recognition of women's artistic and economic contributions, at a time when their roles were often marginalized. By consulting primary sources, such as inventories, fashion treatises, and other pattern books, we can begin to understand the social and cultural significance of works like this.