Ex libris van Paul Schelfhout 1943

This small bookplate, made by Lodewijk Schelfhout, is a black ink drawing on paper. It's like a little personal stamp for a book lover. I love the delicate, almost scratchy lines that make up this Ex libris. I imagine Schelfhout hunched over a table, carefully etching away at a metal plate, maybe thinking about his brother Paul, for whom he made this personal design. The texture is so tactile! And that border is very striking, like a little frame. The family crest is so ornate, and I wonder if Schelfhout was thinking about history, family pride, or just the fun of drawing those swooping lines. This little print is a quiet nod to the larger world of art and design, where every artist borrows and riffs off ideas from the past. It's like a secret conversation happening across centuries.