New Modelbüch (Page 10r) 1615

This page comes from a New Modelbüch, or pattern book, made in Germany around the early 17th century by Andreas Bretschneider. It's an example of a very practical application of printmaking: to aid artisans in the creation of textiles. The book would have been produced using woodcut or engraving, relatively low-cost techniques that allowed for the widespread dissemination of design. Notice the crisp lines and repeating motifs, which are ideally suited for replication in embroidery or lace. Consider the labor involved, both in the book's production and in the textiles it inspired. The designs would have been traced and then painstakingly stitched, a time-consuming process often undertaken by women. The book, in effect, is a node in a vast network of making, connecting designer, printer, and needleworker in a cycle of production and consumption. So, next time you see a piece of historical embroidery, remember that its design may have originated not in the realm of fine art, but in a humble pattern book like this one.