Bookplate: S. Helena, and Bookplate: S. Angela 1922

Curator: These bookplates by Eric Gill present striking images of female saints in wood engraving. What catches your eye first? Editor: The stark black and white contrast immediately establishes a sense of formality and reverence. The composition, with its vertical orientation, feels almost like a medieval icon. Curator: Gill, who lived from 1882 to 1940, was deeply involved in the Arts and Crafts movement. The wood engraving technique itself, a labor-intensive and artisanal process, speaks to the movement's values. Editor: Absolutely. And the linear quality, the precise cuts, create a visual language that merges the spiritual with a clean, modern aesthetic. It's a fascinating interplay of form and content. Curator: Gill's engagement with religious themes reflects the social context of his time, exploring the interplay between faith, craft, and modern life. Editor: Indeed, and that interplay is powerfully rendered through the visual grammar of these prints. It prompts us to consider the means of production but also its inherent beauty.