Corona delle Nobili et Virtuose Donne: Libro I-IV, page 40 (recto) 1601

This is a page from Cesare Vecellio's "Corona delle Nobili et Virtuose Donne," printed in Venice; we don't know the exact date, but he lived from 1521 to 1601. It is a woodcut, a relatively simple process, yet capable of great refinement. Imagine a craftsman carefully carving away at a block of wood, following Vecellio's design to create this intricate pattern. The areas he cuts away will appear white on the page, while the raised lines retain the ink. Look closely, and you'll see the beauty in the play of positive and negative space. It is a testament to the rich textile industry of Venice, which of course relied on the intensive labor of countless anonymous workers. This wasn't fine art, but something more practical: a pattern book meant to inspire lacemakers. Yet, in its own way, it embodies many of the same aesthetic values that we see in painting and sculpture. Appreciating the skill and labor involved in this image allows us to question the traditional hierarchy of art versus craft.