Les Singuliers et Nouveaux Portraicts... page 61 (recto) 1588

Editor: Here we have a page, number 61 to be precise, from *Les Singuliers et Nouveaux Portraicts…* made in 1588. It appears to be a drawing or print depicting an intricate geometric design. The precise grid-like pattern reminds me of early computer graphics. How do you interpret this work and its potential significance? Curator: This isn’t just about geometry; it’s about access and agency. These ornament prints, especially patterns like this, gave women—often excluded from formal artistic training—access to design knowledge. These patterns were fundamental to the creation of textiles and domestic environments, effectively enabling a form of creative and economic self-determination. What power dynamics are at play when we think about who is creating versus who is consuming such images? Editor: So it was a tool for empowerment in a way? I hadn’t thought of it that way, I saw only decoration and geometric patterns. Curator: Exactly. And the act of repeating these patterns, the labour involved, what does that signify? Think about the socio-economic context: who had the time, the resources to engage with such intricate work? Who benefitted from the goods produced from such labour? Can we consider this not just as design, but as a form of quiet resistance, a claim to creative space in a patriarchal society? Editor: It is remarkable to consider how a seemingly simple geometric design can unlock so many important layers. It completely changes how I see this piece. Curator: Precisely. Looking at the artwork in relation to gender, labour, and socio-economic history adds invaluable layers of understanding. It enables a more just and holistic engagement with this early print.