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BOOKPLATES THE WORLD OF EX-LIBRIS |
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A historical retrospective 3 MODERN TIMES |
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3h 1935-1980: THE VISUAL TOWER OF BABEL part II
It is obvious that this section cannot contain more than a partly
representative selection of the diversity of artists and trends of
the period considered. It should be viewed in conjunction with
the modern plates which are shown in part 4 of this catalogue.
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3h/1. Camille Graeser (CH, 1892-1980)  LUISE HILLER, P1,
76 x 35, c.1935.
Graeser was a talented artist and designer who taught at the Bauhaus and contributed substantially to its concepts on style. Two ex-libris are known by him, of which this one was for Luise Hiller. |
3h/2. Endre Vadasz (H, 1901-1944) JULIKA , C4, 85 x 109,
1935.
The graphics tradition has always had special vitality in East European countries, although this is especially perceptible in the last few decades, when ex-libris have been somewhat neglected in Western Europe. Vadasz was a noted painter and engraver. |
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3h/3. Joszef Menyhart (CZ, 1901-1976) STEPHANI BEKES,
C3, 151 x 57, 1936. GM 7102.
Menyhart is a somewhat forgotten artist, but his graphics show his great talent for form and expression. Czech and Slovak artists, still today, are amongst the best exponents of etching. |
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3h/4. Olmedo Mezzoli (?I) ELDA BOTTA, C3, 101 x 69,
1938.
This bookplate is of interest as it is somewhere in between Déco style and cubist abstraction, the former being to some extent the decorative, applied art version of the latter. |
3h/5. Rex Whistler (GB, 1905-1944) AUDREY PLEYDELL
BOUVERIE, P5, 132 x 95, 1939.
Viz BNL #187.
The remarkable British artist Whistler made a couple of dozen ex-libris, mostly for friends. He made this one for Mrs Pleydell Bouverie as a present, to ask forgiveness for having forgotten to go to a dinner to which she had invited him! A collotype edition was made somewhat later. |
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3h/6. Willem Jakob Rozendaal (NL, 1899-1971) EUGENE
STRENS, X2, 157 x 118, 1937.
Several artists in the Netherlands also used wood engraving and many with great talent. This lively image seems to announce the Second World War, and is one of many ex-libris by this artist. |
3h/7. Franz Masereel (NL, 1899-1971) EUGENE STRENS, X2,
157 x 118, 1937.
It might be said that Masereel, in the 1900 generation, picked up woodcut where Vallotton left off, and from symbolist developed it into a powerful expressionist language. He made many ex-libris, of which this was for an antiquarian book dealer. |
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3h/8. Rockwell Kent (USA, 1882-1971) IRENE OWEN
ANDREWS, P7, 92 x 42, c.1940.
Generally considered the most significant modern American artist amongst the relatively few who have made bookplates. Kent’s ex-libris are nearly all offset lithographies, and not always of impressive quality. |
3h/9. Bruno Bramanti (I, 1897-1957) MARK SEVERIN, X2,
95 x 61, c.1940.
With Italo Zetti and Tranquillo Marangoni – though the latter in a very different style – Bramanti is one of the main modern exponents of wood engraving in Italy. His lyrical microcosms always have a still, magical quality and he exploited contrast to great effect. |
3h10 - 3h18
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