“This woodcut from 1605 is a page from an instruction book, offering a precise pattern for needlework. It reveals the intricate artistry and practical skill involved in 17th-century textile design, making visible a craft that was central to daily life.”
This small woodcut, "La Pratique de l'Aiguille, page 74," presents a detailed pattern for needlework, a practical guide from a 17th-century instruction book. The design features an intricate floral motif, likely intended for embroidery or lace, demonstrating the era's sophisticated approach to decorative arts. Looking closely, you can see the precise lines and careful hatching that define the petals and leaves, a testament to the skill required to translate such delicate forms into a woodblock print. This page is part of a larger volume, suggesting the widespread interest in and importance of textile crafts during this period. It offers a direct glimpse into the domestic and artistic practices of the early 1600s, showing how complex designs were disseminated and taught.
- Artist
- Matthias Mignerak
- Date
- 1605
- Medium
- Woodcut
- Location
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Dimensions
- Overall: 9 1/4 x 7 1/16 in. (23.5 x 18 cm)
- Collection
- Drawings and Prints
- Credit line
- Rogers Fund, 1920
What to Notice
Four details hide in plain sight. Here’s where to look.

The symmetrical arrangement of the floral elements.
The fine lines indicating the texture of leaves and petals.
The small, repeated dots forming part of the pattern.
The blank spaces, suggesting where thread or fabric would fill in.
Stand in front of it and listen
The full narration walks you through La Pratique de l'Aiguille, page 74 (recto) — the story behind it, the details most visitors miss, and why it matters. Free in the Art Whisper app.
Matthias Mignerak
Matthias Mignerak's 1605 pattern book 'La Pratique de l'Aiguille' put fine needlework into the hands of everyday embroiderers.
Further Works by Mignerak
La Pratique de l'Aiguille
1605 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
La Pratique de l'Aiguille, page 10 (recto)
1605 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
La Pratique de l'Aiguille, page 11 (recto)
1605 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
La Pratique de l'Aiguille, page 12 (recto)
1605 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
La Pratique de l'Aiguille, page 14 (recto)
1605 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
La Pratique de l'Aiguille, page 15 (recto)
1605 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
La Pratique de l'Aiguille, page 16 (recto)
1605 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
La Pratique de l'Aiguille, page 17 (recto)
1605 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
More works to explore
Beyond Mignerak: works from the same years.
Same era · 1590s–1620s
The Capture of Samson
Peter Paul Rubens · 1609 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1590s–1620s
The Adoration of the Shepherds
El Greco · 1610
Same era · 1590s–1620s
The Entombment of Christ
Caravaggio · 1600 · Pinacoteca Vaticana
Same era · 1590s–1620s
Kitchen Scene
Diego Velázquez · 1618 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1590s–1620s
Boy with a Lute
Frans Hals · 1620 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Same era · 1590s–1620s
The Feast in the House of Simon
El Greco (Doménikos Theotokópoulos) and workshop · 1608 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1590s–1620s
Winter Landscape with Snowfall near Antwerp
Jan Brueghel the Elder · 1610
Same era · 1590s–1620s
Flower Arrangements
Artist Unknown - The Mercat Cross, Aberdeen · 1595 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1590s–1620s
The Calling of Saint Matthew
Hendrick ter Brugghen · 1609 · Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest
Same era · 1590s–1620s
An Allegory of Fruitfulness
Jacob Jordaens · 1620 · Wallace Collection
Same era · 1590s–1620s
The Virgin and Child with Saint Anne
Georges de La Tour · 1600 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Same era · 1590s–1620s
Flowers and Birds
Zhou Zhimian · 1595 · Los Angeles County Museum of Art
