Libbretto nouellamete composto per maestro Domenico da Sera...lauorare di ogni sorte di punti, page 8 (verso) 1532

This is a page from a book by Domenico da Sera, printed in Venice in the 16th century. It’s made using woodcut, a printmaking technique where an image is carved into a block of wood, inked, and then pressed onto paper. The page showcases patterns for needlework, made up of densely packed squares. Look closely, and you’ll see geometric and floral motifs, plus stylized animals. It’s like a very early form of pixel art! Woodcut was a relatively accessible medium, allowing for the wider dissemination of designs. This book enabled skilled artisans to create intricate textiles, which in turn would have entered the marketplace as valuable commodities. This connects the craft of needlework to larger economic systems. The patterns reflect a highly developed aesthetic sensibility, on par with painting and sculpture. By appreciating the artistry and labor embedded in these designs, we can challenge traditional hierarchies between art and craft.