La Pratique de l'Aiguille, page 4 (verso) 1605

This is a page from "La Pratique de l'Aiguille," or The Practice of the Needle, published in Paris in 1605. It offers a window into the gendered world of early modern craftsmanship. Here, we see a royal decree granting Jean Le Clerc the exclusive right to publish and sell this needlework pattern book. Note the mention of the "tres-excellent Milour Mathias Mignerak Anglois," emphasizing the skill and foreign origin of the needlework master. The detailed language underscores the value placed on specialized artisanal knowledge. Consider the broader implications for women's labor. Needlework was a skill often associated with domesticity and femininity, yet it could also be a source of income and creativity. Were pattern books like these a form of empowerment, providing women with access to designs and techniques? Or did they reinforce societal expectations? This page marks both the artistic expression and the socio-economic realities of women in the 17th century.