Ornamento delle belle & virtuose donne, page 12 (recto) 1554

Matteo Pagano's "Ornamento delle belle & virtuose donne," is a woodcut showcasing patterns for the virtuous women of the late Renaissance. The geometric patterns and crosses are more than mere decoration, they are echoes of symbols stretching back through time. The cross, a powerful symbol of faith, sacrifice and redemption. But even before Christianity, similar shapes appeared in various cultures, representing the cardinal directions, or the meeting point between the divine and the earthly. Looking at the swastika-like motifs, it is tempting to focus on its later appropriation, but we must remember its roots in ancient cultures, where it symbolized the sun, life, and good fortune. This symbol's journey reveals how meanings can be twisted, distorted, and layered over time, imprinting our collective memory and influencing our subconscious associations. These patterns elicit primal feelings of order, safety, and connection to ancestral traditions, engaging us on a deep, almost unconscious level.