Lucidario di Recami, page 2 (recto) 1564

Iseppo Foresto’s “Lucidario di Recami, page 2” presents a series of vertical panels filled with intricate designs of flora and human figures, rendered in ink on paper. The composition is structured by the repetition of patterns within the vertical frames, creating a visual rhythm that invites the eye to move systematically across the page. The use of black ink against the stark white paper emphasizes the linear quality of the designs, highlighting the delicate curves and sharp angles of the stylized plants and figures. Each panel, while distinct, shares common motifs, reflecting a semiotic system where floral elements and human forms function as signs within a broader cultural context. The small human figures intertwined within the vegetal patterns disrupt the pure symmetry of the natural forms, complicating any straightforward reading. Foresto destabilizes the traditional, using the framework of ornamental design to engage with ideas of the human figure. This piece is a meditation on the interplay between nature and culture, challenging the viewer to find meaning in its structured yet playful arrangement.