Ex libris van D. Goedkoop 1917

Carel Adolph Lion Cachet created this bookplate for D. Goedkoop; its dimensions are 235 mm in height and 148 mm in width. Cachet lived through a period of immense social and political change, including the rise of nationalism and two World Wars. Cachet's work is often imbued with symbolism and reflects his personal beliefs and experiences. This bookplate for D. Goedkoop, produced between 1867 and 1917, captures a moment in Dutch history amidst burgeoning global conflicts. The stark contrast of the black ink on the off-white page evokes the sense of dichotomy that Cachet employed in many of his works to engage the viewer. It is possible that Cachet was attempting to capture the subject’s personal connection to the text or suggest the intimate relationship that a reader forms with literature. This bookplate reflects the broader societal issues of identity and belonging in a rapidly changing world, while also offering an emotional connection to the personal realm of reading and knowledge.