New Inventions of Modern Times [Nova Reperta], The Production of Silk, plate 8

Art Historical Context

Step into the Renaissance world of innovation with *New Inventions of Modern Times [Nova Reperta], The Production of Silk, plate 8*, an exquisite engraving designed by Flemish artist Jan van der Straet (called Stradanus) and masterfully executed by engravers Jan Collaert I and Philips Galle around 1600. Part of a celebrated series of 118 prints, this 10 5/8 x 7 7/8-inch sheet captures the intricate stages of silk production—from silkworm cultivation to weaving—showcasing the era's fascination with technological progress. Created during Europe's Age of Discovery, the *Nova Reperta* series highlighted "modern" marvels like printing presses and gunpowder, positioning silk-making as a pinnacle of industry. Imported from Asia via trade routes, silk was a luxury symbol of wealth, and this plate illustrates the labor-intensive process with men and women collaboratively tending cocoons, spinning threads, and operating looms. Stradanus's Mannerist style infuses the composition with dynamic energy and precise detail, emphasizing human ingenuity. As an engraving, the work's fine lines and tonal depth—achieved through burin techniques—allowed for widespread dissemination, educating viewers on emerging industries. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department (Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1934), it remains a vivid testament to how art documented the dawn of early modern manufacturing.

About the Artist

Jan van der Straet, called Stradanus|Jan Collaert I|Philips Galle · 1523–1605

Jan van der Straet, known as Stradanus or Giovanni Stradano, was born in Bruges in 1523 into an artistic family. He received his earliest training in his father Jan van der Straet's painting workshop until the latter's death in 1535, followed by an apprenticeship with Bruges master Maximiliaen Francken from 1535 to 1537. Stradanus then moved to Antwerp, studying under Pieter Aertsen from 1537 to 1...