The Commonplace Book

Woodcuts and pictures from other people’s books, copied out with a caption apiece, as early modern readers kept commonplace books. First gathered on Twitter: #WoodcutWednesday, #NotALion and the manuscripts.

Sixteenth century

When your friend gets a new haircut and you have to tell them it looks nice.

From: Thomas Hill, The contemplation of mankinde contayning a singuler discourse after the art of…
Printed: 1571
Image from: Early English Books Online (STC 13482)

You’re a wizard, Harry [Bailey]!

When your friend makes a bad pun.

Sixteenth century

When you talk about Twitter to people who don’t use Twitter.

From: Thomas Hill, The contemplation of mankinde contayning a singuler discourse after the art of…
Printed: 1571
Image from: Early English Books Online (STC 13482)

Sixteenth century

When your friend is being the creepy dude at the club.

From: Thomas Hill, The contemplation of mankinde contayning a singuler discourse after the art of…
Printed: 1571
Image from: Early English Books Online (STC 13482)

Sixteenth century

When you wear a hat thinking you were having a bad hair day.

From: Thomas Hill, The contemplation of mankinde contayning a singuler discourse after the art of…
Printed: 1571
Image from: Early English Books Online (STC 13482)

Seventeenth century

Picture me rollin’.

From: Thomas Coryate, Thomas Coriate traueller for the English vvits: greeting From the court of…
Printed: 1616
Image from: Early English Books Online (STC 5811)

When you realize that despite the fact you look like a turd, someone still loves you.

Unicorns: Not so fucking cute now, are they?

I love that @lampallib used both hashtags I originated!–> RT "Don't be late, it's #WoodcutWednesday! #notalion"

When someone asks you how your work is going.

They see me rollin’, they hatin’…

When you spend a long time on a project and get shitty results.

When you’ve just slaughtered a village and you give God all the glory.

Sixteenth century

Melancholy Bardus is melancholy.

From: Raphael Holinshed, The firste volume of the chronicles of England, Scotlande, and Irelande
Printed: London: for John Hunne, 1577
Image from: Early English Books Online (STC 13568)

Sixteenth century

That awkward moment when a fight turns homoerotic.

From: Raphael Holinshed, The firste volume of the chronicles of England, Scotlande, and Irelande
Printed: London: for John Hunne, 1577
Image from: Early English Books Online (STC 13568)

Sixteenth century

When that ironic hat looked dope in the store and you wear it out for the first time.

From: Raphael Holinshed, The firste volume of the chronicles of England, Scotlande, and Irelande
Printed: London: for John Hunne, 1577
Image from: Early English Books Online (STC 13568)

Sixteenth century

That moment in a fight where you question your opponent’s penis size.

From: Raphael Holinshed, The firste volume of the chronicles of England, Scotlande, and Irelande
Printed: London: for John Hunne, 1577
Image from: Early English Books Online (STC 13568)

Sixteenth century

That moment when you realize Cordelia was ripped as fuck.

From: Raphael Holinshed, The firste volume of the chronicles of England, Scotlande, and Irelande
Printed: London: for John Hunne, 1577
Image from: Early English Books Online (STC 13568)

Sixteenth century

These guys really hate trees.

From: Raphael Holinshed, The firste volume of the chronicles of England, Scotlande, and Irelande
Printed: London: for John Hunne, 1577
Image from: Early English Books Online (STC 13568)

Sixteenth century

When your friend asks which one is your bae.

From: Raphael Holinshed, The firste volume of the chronicles of England, Scotlande, and Irelande
Printed: London: for John Hunne, 1577
Image from: Early English Books Online (STC 13568)

Sixteenth century

A #mensrights troll when he sees “feminist” in someone’s Twitter bio.

From: Raphael Holinshed, The firste volume of the chronicles of England, Scotlande, and Irelande
Printed: London: for John Hunne, 1577
Image from: Early English Books Online (STC 13568)

Sixteenth century

The old dick stab.

From: Raphael Holinshed, The firste volume of the chronicles of England, Scotlande, and Irelande
Printed: London: for John Hunne, 1577
Image from: Early English Books Online (STC 13568)

Sixteenth century

When that new hip restaurant doesn't take reservations and only has a few tables.

From: Raphael Holinshed, The firste volume of the chronicles of England, Scotlande, and Irelande
Printed: London: for John Hunne, 1577
Image from: Early English Books Online (STC 13568)