Les Singuliers et Nouveaux Portraicts... page 54 (recto) 1588

This is a page from "Les Singuliers et Nouveaux Portraicts..." by Federico de Vinciolo, created sometime between 1582 and 1599. The book is a collection of lace patterns, reflecting the era's intricate craft traditions. These weren't just designs; they were social texts, especially for women. Lace making, often a domestic activity, was deeply entwined with women's identities and economic roles. The patterns provided a creative outlet and a means of income, subtly challenging the limited roles prescribed to them. The image displays nude figures, maybe cherubs, within floral decoration. The combination can be read as representing innocence, purity, and perhaps even a sense of freedom, all expressed within the confines of domestic craft. Lace-making, and this book, embodies both constraint and creativity. The very act of creating, and the circulation of these patterns, allowed women to participate in a broader cultural and economic landscape. This seemingly decorative art becomes a quiet assertion of identity and agency.