Newes Modelbuch in Kupffer (Page, 3r) 1604

This page from Johann Sibmacher's *Newes Modelbuch in Kupffer*, was printed in Germany around 1604, offering patterns for embroidery and needlework. But this isn't just a book of pretty pictures. Consider it as a window into the cultural values of the time. The elaborate typeface, the ornate borders, and the dedicatory text on this page all speak to the book’s intended audience: elite women of the late Renaissance. Note how the text stresses that needlework is esteemed by 'high and low' people. The book connects needlework to classical mythology with references to Arachne and Minerva. There is also a Biblical reference to King Solomon. By associating needlework with these figures, Sibmacher elevates it to a learned and respectable pursuit, befitting noblewomen. As art historians, we might turn to fashion history, social history, and the history of print culture to understand this book more fully. What does it tell us about the role of women, the status of craft, and the circulation of design in early modern Europe?