Ex libris van Katalin Székely 1932

This bookplate for Katalin Székely, made by an anonymous artist, probably in the early 20th century, is a reminder of how art sneaks into the everyday, transforming something functional into something wonderful. The book emerges, and from it springs this explosion of organic and geometric forms, like a dream or a fantastical garden growing out of the pages. What strikes me is the controlled chaos of it all – the way the artist uses line to create a sense of depth and movement. Look at the tiny figures nestled within the design – they seem to be plucked straight from the pages of the book itself. It reminds me a bit of Hilma af Klint's work – that same impulse to make visible the invisible, to give form to the intangible. It’s a testament to the way art can open up new worlds of thought.