Libro quarto. De rechami per elquale se impara in diuersi modi lordine e il modo de recamare...Opera noua, page 2 (recto) 1532

This is page two from Alessandro Paganino’s needlework pattern book, printed in Venice in the early 16th century using woodcut techniques. Published during the Italian Renaissance, this manual reveals how gender roles were intricately linked to artistic expression. Needlework, often relegated to the domestic sphere, was primarily practiced by women. These pattern books provided women with the means to create elaborate and beautiful embroideries for their homes and clothing. The text gives us insight into the techniques and aesthetics valued during this period. The instructions detail methods for transferring designs onto fabric, offering a glimpse into the artistic process. But also they offer a more intimate understanding of the lives and creative outlets of women in Renaissance society, where art and everyday life were deeply intertwined. In following the instructions, readers could find not only an artistic outlet but also a means of self-expression.