Spechio di pensieri delle belle et Virtudiose donne, page 10 (recto) 1546

This woodcut by Matteo Pagano is a page from a book of patterns, a mirror for thoughts of beautiful and virtuous women. The designs are striking, built from small squares to form bands filled with geometric motifs like stylized flowers, crosses, and meanders. These aren’t merely decorative; they echo across time and cultures. Consider the cross, an ancient symbol of connection, seen in Celtic knots or woven into textiles from the Andes. In this book, intended for women creating needlework, the cross stitches connect women to each other, and the broader symbolic traditions of harmony and balance. The act of stitching itself becomes a ritual, charged with unspoken emotions, a way to weave intentions and memories into the fabric of life. These patterns tap into a collective memory, evoking feelings of comfort and continuity. So these symbols aren’t static; they evolve and resurface, carrying layers of meaning across centuries.