Titelpagina voor: Spelen van sinne waer inne alle oirboirlijcke ende eerlijcke handwercken ghepresen ende verhaelt worden tot grooter stichtinghe ende onderwijsinghe van eene yeghelijcken van wat staten hy is. Ghespeelt met octroy der Co. Ma. binnen de Stadt van Antwerpen op Thaech-spel naer Dlandt-Juweel, by die vier cameren van Rhetorijcke die hen daer ghepresenteert hebben den vierentwintichsten dach Augusti int Jaer ons Heeren 1561. 1562

This title page, made in Antwerp in 1562 by Willem Silvius, is a celebration of handwork, rendered in ink on paper. The black lines are bold and crisp, typical of early printing techniques like woodcut or engraving. Look closely, and you'll notice how the density of the lines creates areas of shadow and depth, particularly in the intricate emblem at the bottom. This emblem, along with the decorative initials, adds a layer of visual interest, but it's the text itself that commands attention. The lettering, with its mix of gothic and roman styles, reflects the transitional period in printing history. Each letter was painstakingly set by hand, a labor-intensive process that required skilled craftsmanship and careful attention to detail. The very act of producing this page, praising honest handwork, underscores the value placed on skilled labor. It suggests a society that prized both intellectual and manual pursuits, blurring the lines between art and craft.