Ex libris van Johan Schwencke 1926

This 1926 anonymous etching, currently in the Rijksmuseum collection, is an *ex libris* or bookplate featuring a woman in 17th-century attire. *Ex libris* were popular in the 17th and 18th centuries and were used to identify the owner of a book, often with their initials and coat of arms. This particular *ex libris* depicts a woman in a detailed, richly-textured outfit, standing with her arms crossed, perhaps signifying the owner’s scholarly nature. The image is executed in a black and white etching style, typical of the period, and is a reminder of the art of book ownership and the historical context of book collecting.