Dekblad met twee ex librissen waaronder dat van Jean de Poligny 1607

This is an anonymous drawing of a cover sheet with two bookplates, located in the Rijksmuseum. The drawing is rendered in monochromatic lines, the bookplates appearing as delicate, self-contained universes on the aged paper. Observe how the composition is stark: two distinct rectangular forms—the bookplates—are positioned along the vertical axis of the sheet, challenging the viewer's perception of space and dimensionality. The upper bookplate is more elaborate, with cherubic figures and heraldic symbols, its curvilinear design contrasting with the geometric simplicity of the one below. Semiotically, these bookplates function as signs. They denote ownership, taste, and identity. The visual contrast and the very act of affixing these emblems to a page raises questions about authorship, originality, and the cultural codes embedded within heraldry. What established meanings do these emblems reinforce, and how do they engage with notions of personal and collective representation?