Ex libris van B.V.H.I. 1876 - 1924

This bookplate was made by Gerrit Willem Dijsselhof, sometime around the turn of the 20th century. It's a woodcut, a relief printing technique that's been around for centuries. Dijsselhof carefully carved away the areas he wanted to appear white, leaving the design raised on the block. When inked and pressed onto paper, the remaining surface transfers the image. Look closely, and you'll see the distinctive character of the medium: the crisp lines, the subtle textures created by the wood grain itself, and the sharp, clean edges. Woodcut is a laborious process, demanding patience and skill. But it's also a relatively accessible technique, requiring only simple tools and materials. In this bookplate, Dijsselhof combines the traditions of fine art with the accessibility of craft, blurring the boundaries between the two. The very act of making it invests the print with social and cultural significance, reminding us that art is not just about aesthetic beauty, but also about the human labor and ingenuity that brings it into being.