Les Singuliers et Nouveaux Portraicts... page 23 (recto) 1588

This is a page from "Les Singuliers et Nouveaux Portraicts…," made in the late 16th century by Federico de Vinciolo. The dark ground contrasts sharply with intricate white patterns, creating a striking visual tension. It immediately suggests the delicate yet precise craft of lace making. The composition is structured around horizontal bands, each filled with complex geometric and floral motifs. Notice how Vinciolo employs symmetry and repetition. These aren’t just decorative choices; they reveal a deeper structure. The designs use a semiotic system of signs, with hearts, crowns, and stars. These could have been understood through cultural codes of the time. The cut-out designs challenge fixed meanings, playing with positive and negative space to alter our perception. This challenges our assumptions, blurring the line between art and functionality. The overall structure shows how form can function not just aesthetically but also as part of a larger cultural discourse.