Schön newes Modelbuch (Page 7r) 1608

Sigismundus Latomus created this woodcut pattern design, titled "Schön newes Modelbuch", in the early 17th century. It presents a world of geometric possibilities, and connects to the culture of artisanal production that characterized Europe at the time. The image offers two distinct bands of repeating designs. The designs themselves are intricate, and reveal the kind of precision possible in the printmaking workshops of the period. The "Modelbuch" – or pattern book – was not simply an aesthetic object. It served as a crucial resource for artisans, craftspeople, and even home-based workers who produced textiles and embroidery. Produced in Germany, the book also reflects the rising merchant classes of the Hanseatic League. These designs, circulated widely, democratized access to innovative patterns, and fueled economic growth. The survival of pattern books like this are invaluable to historians who study the economic structures of the early modern period. They show how the institutions of design intersect with production and trade.