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BOOKPLATES THE WORLD OF EX-LIBRIS |
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A historical retrospective 4 EX-LIBRIS: A THEMATIC APPROACH |
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4b BOOKS AND LIBRARY INTERIORS 1680-1930 |
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4b/13. L. Métivet (F)  EUGèNE JACOB, C3, 70 x 46, c.1880.
The bibliophile’s dream: angels descending from heaven bearing books. This bookplate was made for the French bibliophile and author Jacob by his nephew, L. Métivet. |
4b/14. Jan Konupek (CZ, 1883-1950) ING. BEDRI PETRLIK,
C3, 96 x 62, 1919.
Konupek was a prolific engraver of ex-libris, and this example shows his skill. Setting out into the labyrinth of books and literature, the man holds a rope to make sure he can find his way out... |
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4b/15. Gregor Rabinovitch (ROS/CH, 1884-1958) A. R.
PEYTRIGNET, C2 + C3, 126 x 95, 1915.
This St. Petersburg-born artist, who lived most of his life in Switzerland, was one of the best and most delicate engravers of his time. In this plate, the world of books leads to charming inspiration. This ex-libris exists at least in two colour variants, gray-black and sepia-brown. |
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4b/16. Sir Max Beerbohm (GB, 1872-1956) GRANVILLE
BARKER, P1, 105 x 76, c.1920.
Viz. BNL #146.
Beerbohm, celebrated author and cartoonist, was a friend of Harley Granville-Barker (1877-1946), actor and producer, and this ex-libris – the only one known to be by this artist – treats the same theme as the preceding one in a different way. |
4b/17. Hilaire Belloc (GB, 1870-1953 ) MAURICE BARING,
P1, 51 x 44, c.1920.
Here goes a ship with a cargo of books to the City of Dreams, wrote the author and poet Belloc on the ex-libris he designed for his friend Baring. Baring once said: I’m too stupid to be able to play bridge – I can’t count beyond 13... – it does seem, however, that he could read... |
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4b/18. Erwin Theermann (D, 1905-1927) M. UBBELOHDE,
C3, 105 x 96, 1921.
Theermann left a substantial ex-libris opus, though he died at 22. This ex-libris was made when he was sixteen! |
4b/19. Sepp Frank (D, 1889-1970) KARL MARTIN ANDRES,
C4 + C5, 161 x 90, c.1920.
Frank was one of the major symbolist artists in Germany during the ‘Golden Age’ of German bookplates, and Karl Andres was an important patron of ex-libris artists. |
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4b/20. Fritz Blum (D, 1897-?) HANS GOLDMANN, C3,
112 x 70, c.1930.
Books can be threatened and are treasures to be protected, as the Berlin artist Blum pointed out with this image. |
4b/21. Arthur Henne (D, 1887-1963) A. OSSWALD, C3,
119 x 85. c.1930.
... But man can also be crushed by books and knowledge. Henne was a member of the important Dresden School of graphic artists. |
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4b/22. Paul Bürck (D, 1878-1947) LUDWIG SAENG, C4,
120 x 74, c.1920.
The book is a source of enlightenment, and spiritual life differentiates man from beast. This is the central idea in Bürck’s image for Saeng. |
4b/23. Josef Seché (D, 1880-1948) IPSE, C3 + C4, 115 x 71.
c.1930.
Obviously, for this artist, the book is a source of relaxation, pleasure and elevation. |
End of 4b
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