Titel page from the Modelbuch aller Art Nehens vn Stickens (Page 1r) 1535

Editor: This is the title page from the *Modelbuch aller Art Nehens vn Stickens*, a woodcut from 1535 by Christian Egenolff. There’s a kind of organized chaos here. Little scenes crammed in, some classical, some martial. I’m wondering what the logic is of arranging them this way. What jumps out at you? Curator: The “organized chaos” is wonderfully put! It speaks to the spirit of the Renaissance itself – this moment of exuberant rediscovery and mixing of traditions. The page is essentially a sampler, a visual catalog. See how the central text describes different kinds of stitches and patterns? Think of it like a proto-Pinterest board, inspiring needleworkers! Each vignette offers a potential motif. Do you notice a theme emerging when you examine these smaller scenes, beyond their individual narratives? Editor: Hmmm, I see figures, movement. Are they mostly biblical, or more from classical mythology? Curator: A delightful mix, intentionally so, I believe! Egenolff pulls imagery from both worlds to elevate needlework. This isn’t just craft; it’s art, informed by history and even scripture. Look at the very bottom - Exodus 17 is mentioned. It’s about Moses. He also throws in a scene of Bacchus riding a cart, drunk on wine, like from Ovid’s Metamorphoses. By using those narratives, the seamstress also, literally, embroiders those concepts, of divine intervention and mythology, onto cloth. It brings something very different to our modern mass production. It has me wondering, in our digital age, if we lose some sense of sacred inspiration when crafting images… don't you think? Editor: I hadn’t thought of it that way, as almost a spiritual thing…fascinating! That really puts it in perspective. I think I need to find more early examples of needlework to more fully understand this world. Curator: Exactly! It's about unlocking hidden meanings in the mundane.