Trionfo Di Virtu. Libro Novo..., page 12 (recto) 1563

This is a page from "Trionfo Di Virtu. Libro Novo...", made around 1550 by the Italian artist Matteo Pagano using woodcut on paper. This print shows a series of decorative patterns. The process of woodcut is key to appreciating this image. The artist would have painstakingly carved away areas of a wood block, leaving the design raised. This was then inked and printed, creating the bold graphic effect we see here. The texture of the paper and the slight imperfections in the print contribute to the overall aesthetic. The designs themselves are intricate, mixing floral motifs with geometric elements. What is interesting here is that these patterns weren’t conceived as ‘high art,’ but rather as templates for other makers. Think embroiderers, metalworkers, and other artisans. Pagano’s work blurs the lines between artist and craftsperson, highlighting the skill and artistry inherent in the decorative arts. These patterns embody the circulation of designs and skills in 16th-century Europe, and how this print, in turn, could have been a template for so many different objects and artworks.