LESSON 6 · The Medieval Canvas
Patterns Without Endpoints
Celtic interlace designs — bands weaving over and under each other in complex paths — create closed loops the eye can follow indefinitely without finding a starting point. This wasn't decorative accident but deliberate philosophical expression.
The geometry rivals the work of trained mathematicians. Some patterns in the Book of Kells are so intricate that scholars have used computer analysis to map their structure. These designs followed strict rules: no loose ends, no broken strands, perfect symmetry within apparent chaos.