Ex libris van Carl E. Petersen 1894

This bookplate for Carl E. Petersen was made by Stephen H. Hargan around 1894, likely through a photomechanical process such as etching. The finely detailed black lines forming the image are characteristic of this type of printmaking. The choice of a print aligns well with the function of a bookplate; it would have allowed for the relatively easy production of multiples. The image pictures a reverend in his study, surrounded by the accoutrements of the life of the mind: books, papers, and a comfortable desk. Look closely and you’ll notice the labor that is hidden, or rather framed: a line of text sits at the top that describes a book as a ‘wholesome counselor’. Bookplates are fascinating precisely because of this intimate association between an image and a person; they are an example of a craft process lending social significance to printed material. In this case, it is used to elevate books as more than material objects. By bringing the graphic arts and the world of fine books together, this bookplate challenges any strict separation between art and craft.