Ex libris van Berta Rouwens 1878 - 1940

This bookplate, or “Ex Libris,” was made by Elias Voet Junior, probably around the turn of the 20th century. It’s a small print, made using a relief process – likely wood engraving, where the areas to be printed in color are left raised on the block. The design features an initial “R” for Berta Rouwens, the book’s owner, set within an architectural framework. The blocky, geometric forms speak to the influence of the Arts and Crafts movement, with its emphasis on simple, hand-crafted designs. Yet the very act of printing puts it in dialogue with industrial production. Consider the labor involved in creating this small object. First, Voet would have meticulously carved the design into the woodblock. Then, each print would have been individually inked and pressed, whether by hand or machine. The resulting image, while seemingly straightforward, embodies a complex interplay between handcraft and mechanical reproduction. This speaks to a moment in history where artists grappled with the rise of industry, seeking to reconcile traditional skills with new technologies.