Schön Neues Modelbuch (Page 11 recto) 1597

This page from Johann Sibmacher's "Schön Neues Modelbuch," created around 1604-1611, presents a detailed study in contrasting visual elements within a tight structure. Here, Sibmacher offers us two distinct bands of patterns, each meticulously crafted from a grid of squares that alternate in tone. This structured approach allows for a play between positive and negative space, where each small square functions almost like a pixel in a larger, complex image. The top pattern explodes into a field of tessellated, diamond-like shapes. The lower pattern is more subdued, with a tightly woven and compressed pattern. The use of symmetry in both patterns suggests a world of underlying order, accessible through the close study of form and pattern. Each element is carefully positioned to create a harmonious yet dynamic composition. The page invites us to consider not just the patterns themselves, but also the ways in which they reflect broader cultural fascinations with order, decoration, and the interplay between art and mathematics.