Trionfo Di Virtu. Libro Novo..., page 27 (recto) 1563

This is page 27 from 'Trionfo Di Virtu. Libro Novo...', created by Matteo Pagano in Venice in the 16th century. It is a woodcut print. To make this image, Pagano would have used a block of wood as his matrix, carving away the areas he didn't want to print. Look closely, and you can see the precision involved in creating such intricate detail. The varying line weights evoke depth and texture within the densely interwoven foliage and birds, all achieved through careful, controlled cuts into the wood. Consider the labor involved in this process. Each line represents a deliberate act of removal, a testament to the artist's skill and patience. Woodcut was a key technology in the development of a print market, allowing for the reproduction and dissemination of images on a scale never before possible, and influencing design across Europe. By focusing on the materiality and the making process, we can see this print not just as a decorative image but as a testament to human ingenuity and the transformative power of craft.