Ce est ung tractat de la noble art de leguille ascavoir ouvraiges de spaigne... 1527 - 1540

Editor: Here we have “Ce est ung tractat de la noble art de leguille ascavoir ouvraiges de spaigne…” a print, a woodcut to be precise, and engravings from Willem Vosterman, dating to between 1527 and 1540. It depicts scenes of textile production, a book cover design really. What strikes me is the clear connection to craft, and it makes me wonder about its audience and how such a work would be received. What can you tell me about it? Curator: Well, immediately I see the confluence of labor, materiality, and consumption, particularly within a rising merchant class in the Northern Renaissance. Think about the laborious process of creating these woodcuts and engravings. These images weren't just aesthetic; they advertised the "noble art of the needle," effectively commodifying needlework. Notice how Vosterman highlights the tools and techniques, the means of production are very visible. This elevates these crafts while simultaneously turning them into objects of desire, something to be consumed. Editor: That's a fascinating way to put it. So, it’s not just a representation, it’s part of the very economic system it depicts? Curator: Exactly. Consider the paper itself, the ink, the skilled labor required. All these materials and processes become part of the artwork’s narrative. It is about use-value and exchange-value of craft, the social implications, not just a beautiful image. Editor: That perspective really opens it up. I was initially focused on the figures and their activities, but now I see how the very materiality speaks volumes about the economics of the time. Curator: Precisely. Seeing the layers of production behind what’s presented helps to avoid idealizing the artistry of this period without truly understanding the conditions of its execution. Editor: I’ll definitely look at early prints differently now, thinking about materials and labor in addition to just the aesthetics. Curator: Absolutely, every work has those production considerations deeply intertwined with its cultural statement.