Ce est ung tractat de la noble art de leguille ascavoir ouvraiges de spaigne... page 9 (recto) 1527 - 1540

This is page 9 from "Ce est ung tractat de la noble art de leguille ascavoir ouvraiges de spaigne...", a woodcut book of needlework patterns by Willem Vosterman. This book, with its geometric designs, offers a window into the cultural and social landscape of the 16th century Low Countries. Printed pattern books like these democratized access to design, moving it beyond the confines of courtly workshops and into a wider market. Note the reference to Spain in the title. This points to the influence of Spanish culture in the Netherlands at the time, with needlework being a marker of refinement, class and the exercise of power. The patterns themselves speak to the values of the time. A highly ordered society demanded highly ordered designs. Needlework, then, wasn't merely a pastime, but a visual expression of social status. By examining the archives of the printing trade, the account books of merchants, and surviving examples of needlework from the period, we can begin to understand the social and cultural significance of these designs. They demonstrate the increasing power of printed media.