Ex libris van het familiearchief Van Beresteijn 1908

This is a bookplate print, made by an anonymous artist, for the Van Beresteijn family archive. I love the level of detail here, from the heraldic symbols to the almost architectural lettering circling them. It's a reminder that art isn't just about big statements, but also about the small, intimate details that make up our everyday lives. The printmaking process really comes through here – you can almost feel the pressure of the block against the paper, each line carefully etched and transferred. Look closely at the way the lines create depth and texture. See the hatching and cross-hatching techniques to create a sense of shadow and volume. It's a world of tiny marks, but together they create a powerful image of history and identity. Thinking about someone like Dürer, who elevated printmaking to such heights, you can see echoes of that tradition here – a dedication to craft and a desire to capture the world in all its detail. In the end, this bookplate becomes a small window into a larger world, a reminder that art can be found in the most unexpected places.