Ex libris van Carel Lion Cachet 1932

Carel Lion Cachet made this bookplate in 1932 using wood engraving. Bookplates were used to identify the owners of books and were popular among the wealthy in the Netherlands at this time. The image shows an intertwined monogram, framed by stylized foliage and the words ‘Ex Libris’. In Latin, this means ‘from the books of’ and would have been followed by the name of the book’s owner. Lion Cachet was a well-known graphic artist and book designer. His work often included imagery with natural and stylized elements. He also taught applied art, an emerging discipline which reflected the growing industrialization of the Netherlands. Art historians would look at the popularity of bookplates within the Netherlands and the role of artists like Cachet in shaping graphic design as a profession. This kind of work served a social function as well as an aesthetic one, and understanding that helps us to understand its cultural value.