historical development and meaning

June 16 – June 22, 2021

Vernissage: June 16 (Wednesday), from 4 to 7 p.m

The Latin expression “ex libris” translates as “out of the books of…” meaning “from the library of…” and serves to name a small graphic a work that can be performed in various techniques and has the function of a kind of personal signature of the owner of a book. Most often it is installed on the inside of the book cover and acts as a personal seal of its owner. What distinguishes bookplates from ordinary graphics is above all its functionality. He-isn’t meant to be the only one bearer of aesthetic qualities and a creative idea, and has the task of expressing, albeit succinctly, the most important characteristics of a person possessing one a book.

Gradually, the bookplate art became peculiar collector’s passion and stands out exclusively as an object of collection, losing its functionality. Today, the bookplate is the basis of many exhibitions and competitions because it is not only easy to transfer due to the small its size, but also carries a grace that attracts a large audience. What’s more, its relatively low prices make it a desirable object possession.

The elements of a classic bookplate are the text “ex libris” (which can be replaced by “ex biblioteka” (out of the library of…), “ex musicis’ (‘from the sheet music or musical editions of…’) etc. Possibly the bookplate to contain only an image and name of the library owner. Or it is text – no image. Another important detail in the contents of is an inscription with the name of the owner (full names or initials only). And the third essential element is the image that usually speaks of the artist’s attitude towards the personality, interests, or profession of the holder of the book, his character, social status, etc.

According to the research of art historians in Bulgaria, indicating who is the owner of a given book became fashionable as early as the 19th century, mainly under Russian and German influence. Among the first preserved artistic bookplates is that of Haralampi Tachev. It was published in Andrei Protich’s book Eve (1907). The artist Vasil Zahariev and his students Preslav Karshovski, Binka Vazova, Anna Kramer-Behar and Misha Popova made a significant contribution to the enhanced emergence of artistic bookplates in the 1920s and 1930s. Despite the traditions of bookplate art, the First National Exhibition of bookplates in Bulgaria was held only in 2002, and among his contemporaries masters, the names of Borislav Stoev, Stoimen Stoilov, Onnik should be indicated Karanfilyan, Nikolay Yanakiev, Veselin Damyanov – VES.

The exhibition “Bookplate – historical development and meaning” aims to tell the audience in detail about this important part of graphic art. Yes led viewers through the magic of the subtle image, through the grace of line and the richness of meaning that bookplate art reveals. In supplemented in addition, on June 19 (Saturday) at 10 a.m. in the “Grafikart” gallery will start another creative laboratory where guests will be able to make their own ex-libris and to become familiar with the specifics of ex-libris preservation such as graphic work, with its historical development and meaning.

The exhibition is realized from the “Grafikart” gallery and is part of the educational project “The Art of graphics – traditions and modernity”, financed by the Ministry of Culture.

Events are held in compliance with all anti-epidemic measures and controlled access.