Ce est ung tractat de la noble art de leguille ascavoir ouvraiges de spaigne... page 18 (recto) 1527 - 1540

This is page 18 from Willem Vosterman’s “Ce est ung tractat de la noble art de leguille ascavoir ouvraiges de spaigne…,” or “This is a treatise on the noble art of the needle, namely Spanish works,” printed sometime in the 16th century. Printed pattern books like these allowed for the widespread dissemination of design ideas, influencing both professional and amateur needleworkers. The patterns themselves, often geometric and symmetrical, reflect the period's broader artistic sensibilities, seen in architecture and painting. This book provides a fascinating insight into the cultural exchange of artistic ideas across Europe at the time, and the institutional history of artistic training. Understanding this image requires delving into the economic structures that supported both the textile industry and the printing trade, as well as the social conditions that shaped women’s roles in the domestic sphere. Close examination of surviving textiles, archival documents, and other printed sources can help us better understand the historical context of this printed page.