Opera Nova Universali intitulata Corona di racammi, page 35 (recto) 1530

This is a page from "Opera Nova Universali intitulata Corona di racammi," a book of embroidery patterns printed in Venice by Giovanni Andrea Vavassore in the 16th century. The floral designs weren't conceived as art for the wall. Instead, the images were functional, meant as templates for skilled needle workers to copy and adapt. Venice was a center of both printing and textile production. Books like this reveal the close relationship between those industries. They provided pattern makers with a way to circulate ideas and make a profit. These books also empowered women, offering them a means of creative expression and a potential source of income in a patriarchal society. When we look at the book today, we must ask, what is the relationship between fine art and craft? How do books and museums affect our understanding of each? By studying the material culture of the past, we can better understand the social role of art in our own time.