Giardineto novo di punti tagliati et gropposi per exercitio & ornamento delle donne (Venice 1554), page 13 (recto) 1554

This is a page from Matteo Pagano's "Giardineto novo," printed in Venice in 1554. Notice the interplay between geometric precision and organic form, a dance of structure and fluidity. The page presents a grid framing circular designs, each a miniature study in contrasts. Pagano uses stark black lines against the off-white paper to create detailed patterns. Some circles contain abstract, geometric motifs while others depict stylized figures of animals and people. The grid structure provides a framework, almost a structuralist approach to design, while the variety of motifs within each circle destabilizes any sense of rigid uniformity. This tension between order and chaos encourages us to see how fixed meanings might be challenged through art. The overall composition invites us to explore the intersection of design and semiotics, where simple shapes can carry rich cultural information.