The Gathering of Mulberry Leaves and the Feeding of the Silkworms, Plate 5 from "The Introduction of the Silkworm" [Vermis Sericus] 1595

This 1595 engraving by Karel van Mallery, entitled *The Gathering of Mulberry Leaves and the Feeding of the Silkworms*, is one of five plates from his *The Introduction of the Silkworm* series, which depicts the various stages of silk production. This plate shows people gathering mulberry leaves, a crucial food source for silkworms, and feeding them to the silkworms. The scene is depicted with a high degree of realism, which was typical of van Mallery's work. The intricate details of the process are depicted with clarity and accuracy, making it a valuable historical document. The text on the image, "Tum fronde, ramo, fascifbufq conditus, Se voluit, et pila in modum se contrahit", translates to "Then, bound in leaves, branches, and bundles, he rolls himself up, and contracts into a ball." The image depicts a clear visual narrative of the silk production process, demonstrating the work of the silk farmer to the viewer.