New Künstlichs Modelbuch (Page 5 recto) 1600

This is a page from Bernhard Jobin’s "New Künstlichs Modelbuch," created in the late 16th century. It’s an intricate woodcut, a pattern book designed to guide the needlework of the time. During the Renaissance, pattern books like these were more than just guides; they were a reflection of social status and gender roles. Needlework was primarily the domain of women, and their skill in embroidery and lacemaking signaled their refinement and domestic virtue. But let’s think about this craft as a form of cultural labor. Women weren't just following patterns; they were actively participating in the creation and dissemination of cultural values. Each stitch was a small act of personal expression within a carefully prescribed social framework. These patterns often incorporated symbols and motifs that spoke to the values of the time. Heraldic animals, such as griffins, evoked power and nobility. So, while on the surface, this page looks like a simple guide, it invites us to consider how women navigated their identities through art. It acted as both a creative outlet and a marker of their place in society.