Twee ex librissen van Carel Lion Cachet 1932

Carel Adolph Lion Cachet made these two ex libris designs, or bookplates, at an unknown date, and you can see them here at the Rijksmuseum. Looking at these designs, I imagine Cachet bent over his work, meticulously carving and inking the woodblock, then carefully printing the image. There’s a warmth to these prints, a cozy fire of orange and black, that feels both heraldic and homey. I wonder what Cachet was thinking about as he worked? Perhaps the importance of books, the pleasure of owning them, or maybe he was simply enjoying the craft of printmaking. The lettering is bold but softened by the organic forms surrounding it. The whole thing feels like a personal emblem, a small piece of art intended to mark something precious. I can imagine these bookplates nestled inside the cover of a beloved book, a quiet assertion of ownership and a celebration of the written word. It’s like Cachet is saying: I was here.