Ex libris van Eldina Aldegonda Hoogenraad 1948

This bookplate for Eldina Aldegonda Hoogenraad is made using ink, and you can feel the hand of an unknown person behind its careful execution. I love how this humble design captures the feeling of libraries and the joy of collecting! The name, 'Ex libris,' frames the emblem, a visual statement of ownership and pride. Just imagine the thoughts that went into it: How to signify oneself? What symbols to choose? The designer, I feel, has tried to do justice to Eldina’s character and interests! Maybe she loved architecture, and that's why there's a tiny building in the middle. Or maybe it's a family crest. This little bookplate is like a miniature painting—a small gesture, yet rich with meaning. It’s fascinating how we, as artists, are always in conversation with each other, borrowing and reimagining, inspired by the traces that others leave behind.