New Künstlichs Modelbuch (Page 26 recto) 1600

Curator: Let’s examine a page from Bernhard Jobin's “New Künstlichs Modelbuch,” created around 1600. Specifically, this is “Page 26 recto,” housed here at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Editor: It strikes me as incredibly detailed and precise, despite the limitations of the printmaking process. There's something almost calming about its geometry. It’s an intricate dark lacework over a soft grid. Curator: Exactly! These "model books" served a very practical function in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. They were essentially pattern books used by artisans – embroiderers, lacemakers, and other craftspeople – providing design ideas that could be adapted for various projects. Its use demonstrates a social and visual connection to the Northern Renaissance style that popularized elaborate costumes and textiles. Editor: So, less “high art,” more of a crucial, practical element of early modern material culture. You can almost feel the maker studying the image and carefully translating it into a tangible piece. I'm curious about the specific choices that were made – what kind of thread or lace? How would this translate onto different fabrics? Curator: Indeed. These books blur the lines between art and utility, influencing the very look and feel of garments and furnishings during this time. Editor: Thinking about the labor involved—creating the woodcut, printing the page, and the countless hours artisans then invested in replicating and adapting it—emphasizes how images could influence daily lives. The dense concentration of dark ink laid onto this matrix, its repetitive marks; each detail represents material reality, both physically in production and socially in use. Curator: It's easy to see why the Northern Renaissance favoured such intricacy. The ability to afford materials or afford someone’s time for this craftsmanship reflected well on a patron's position. A complex pattern broadcast social and economic privilege. Editor: That’s very interesting to consider given that woodcut printing, being more accessible, widened the distribution of patterns that may otherwise be reserved for a smaller, elite group. These model books gave way for artistic ingenuity to trickle down socially. Curator: Absolutely. The "New Künstlichs Modelbuch," gives us a window into the workshops and wardrobes of the past. Editor: Leaving us to consider the intimate connection between image, material, and lived experience.