Ex libris en een ontwerp voor een monogram 1876 - 1924

Gerrit Willem Dijsselhof created this set of designs for bookplates and monograms, using ink on paper. Notice how the artist plays with contrasting black ink against the paper’s white ground. The designs, sharply defined and geometrically structured, feature decorative borders, stylized lettering, and symbolic imagery. Dijsselhof uses motifs from the natural world and classical symbolism within a contained formal structure. The repetition of circular and square frames creates a visual rhythm, highlighting the idea of enclosure, reflection and the interplay between text and image. The phrases, carefully integrated into the design, are not merely descriptive; they invite deeper contemplation on art, creativity, and the artist’s role in interpreting the world. The most striking aspect here is the artist's ability to balance decorative appeal with intellectual depth. Each element functions as a signifier within a self-contained system of meaning, inviting us to decode the relationship between form and content. The work challenges the traditional boundaries between art, craft, and intellectual pursuit.