Ein new getruckt model Büchli...Page 24, verso 1529

This is page 24 from Johann Schönsperger the Younger’s “Ein new getruckt model Büchli…”, printed in Germany in the early 16th century. It’s made with ink on paper, using the relatively new technology of the printing press to disseminate patterns. The page is covered in rows of numbers, meticulously recorded. These aren't just idle doodles; they are patterns for embroidery or weaving. Imagine the labor involved, not just in printing these designs, but also in the countless hours of stitching they would inspire. The quality of the paper, the clarity of the print, and the complexity of the patterns all speak to a society increasingly organized around production. We tend to think of the printing press as a vehicle for text, but here it is being used to circulate designs, connecting the world of craft to the burgeoning market economy. It’s a reminder that even the most beautiful objects are deeply embedded in systems of labor, commerce, and consumption.