Opera Nova Universali intitulata Corona di racammi, page 31 (recto) 1530

Editor: Here we have "Opera Nova Universali intitulata Corona di racammi, page 31 (recto)," a woodcut print from 1530 by Giovanni Andrea Vavassore. At first glance, it looks like a very intricate grid. What kind of meaning do you find embedded in it? Curator: This seemingly simple grid is rich in cultural memory. Vavassore’s pattern book acted as a vessel for disseminating embroidery designs throughout Renaissance Europe. Consider the act of creating lace or embroidery itself – knot by knot, stitch by stitch. Do you see the symbolic resonance in that repeated act? Editor: Sort of like building something significant from small parts? Curator: Precisely. Each tiny component holds space, contributing to the larger pattern. In this design, the grid imposes structure, but within the structure, one also perceives freedom. These books were very influential and were used by women for generations. Do you see how Vavassore provided structure so that women could be expressive through making these patterns themselves? Editor: Absolutely, you see the potential for improvisation within a structured design. Also, you're connecting it with memory as something that preserves those traditions. Curator: Yes. We recognize continuity. Visual symbols preserve traditions. Editor: That's incredible. Now, when I look at the pattern I see something new. Thank you! Curator: My pleasure! Looking closely reveals the hidden stories within.