Bookplate of Hilprand Brandenburg of Bibrach c. 1475

This bookplate of Hilprand Brandenburg of Bibrach was produced anonymously, and is a prime example of early printmaking. It was likely created using a woodcut technique, where the design is carved into a block of wood, and the remaining surface inked and printed. The application of color by hand adds another layer of craftsmanship to the print. Notice the bold lines and simplified forms, characteristic of the woodcut process. These are not traditional art materials, but rather an application of the process of printing to the life of a noble who required multiples of his emblem for his books. Each cut is a physical act of labor and skill, reflecting the amount of work involved in creating these images. The prints were reproduced to emphasize the identity of the book’s owner, Hilprand Brandenburg. Considering the materials, making, and context gives you a greater understanding of its creation, and challenges traditional boundaries of art history.