Ex libris van Hanna Ráczné Zerkowitz 1935

Curator: This piece, created in 1935 by Kornél Révész, is an ink drawing on paper, titled “Ex libris van Hanna Ráczné Zerkowitz”. It was made to function as a bookplate for someone named Hanna, which you can see written within the piece itself. Editor: It feels intensely personal. There's an aura of quiet intimacy and comfort here, the soft scratch of ink on paper making all these books and objects somehow alive. It feels almost…dreamlike. Curator: The composition is cleverly structured. Note how the central figures, Hanna and perhaps her child, anchor the design, and are framed by this cascading arrangement of books, ornate decorations, and the nameplate itself. Révész has clearly focused his attention to line weight in order to create depth on the 2D plane. Editor: It does give the feeling of a protective embrace. What is most appealing to me is the everyday scene portrayed; a mother and daughter in each other's presence with a connection forged in shared books and experiences. It invites you into that space. I get a strong impression that Révész found immense worth in the daily moment, capturing beauty in the act of a parent instilling values and building the bond between family. Curator: Absolutely. It speaks to the value of literacy and the passing down of knowledge through generations. Observe, if you will, the use of perspective. The scene is neither strictly frontal nor aerial, leading to an intimacy of viewing that feels uniquely suited to the print's intimate function. The perspective emphasizes connection over hierarchy. Editor: You know, seeing it like this makes me feel a wave of longing for simpler times, away from all these screens and noise. Curator: Art can definitely serve as a kind of refuge, providing moments of contemplative escape. I encourage viewers to closely observe the interplay between line, space and subject to fully engage in its themes. Editor: Yes, to not simply see but *feel* the stories woven into its fabric— to let its essence touch something tender inside us. Thank you!