Les Secondes Oeuvres, et Subtiles Inventions De Lingerie du Seigneur Federic de Vinciolo Venitien, page 64 (recto) 1603

This page from Federico de Vinciolo's "Les Secondes Oeuvres," created in the late 16th century, presents a striking design for linen work. Its graphic quality immediately draws us in, primarily due to its grid structure and stark contrast. The composition features a vase sprouting botanical forms – leaves, flowers, and even a bird perched elegantly on a branch. The grid, however, is not merely a backdrop; it fundamentally organizes the design, dictating the placement and scale of the motifs. This rigid structure contrasts with the organic shapes of the natural elements. De Vinciolo masterfully uses the grid to explore the tension between control and freedom, order and nature. The grid—a symbol of human imposition—becomes the very means through which nature is represented. What is communicated is a subtle commentary on the relationship between artifice and the natural world. Here, the design elements function both aesthetically and as a reflection of the cultural dialogue of the time.