ART OF THE BOOKPLATE

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 938, 3 April 1930, Page 11

ART OF THE BOOKPLATE

EXHIBITION AT ART GALLERY WIDE-WORLD COLLECTION Bookplates collected from all over the world will be on exhibition at the Art Gallery from Monday afternoon. Miss Hilda Wiseman, one of Auckland’s best-known artists, has been collecting bookplates for the past, four years and the result of her labours should stimulate interest in this most fascinating and personal art. A bookplate should express something of the individual and his or her work or hobbies. Each in its own way tells a little of the history of its, owner. Comparisons at this exhibition can be made with the work of the artists of other countries and it is interesting l«> see the way in which the modernist movement lias been exploited in the designing of the plates. The exhibition is one of a series cf loan exhibitions which are being featured by the Library Committee, and Miss Wiseman offered to allow a selection to be made from her collection. This was done by a sub-committee consisting of Mr. John Barr and Mr. T. V. Gulliver, with the co-operation of Miss Wiseman herself. The bookplates consist of etched plates, wood engraving, lino cuts, line blocks, lithograph and photogravure. There are one or two in colour. In the multitude of design the motor-car has been used as a theme in two instances with surprising effect, and a Russian artist has a girl playing tennis as his central design. Examples of bookplates from the following countries are included in the exhibition: —New Zealand, Australia, England. Russia, America, Czechoslovakia, Austria, Spain, Belgium, Italy and Germany. Some of the most interesting bookplates, from the connoisseur’s point of view, have come from Russia and Czechoslovakia, whose artists obtain, wonderful effect with woodcuts. Their work is distinctive and in many instances most original. The New Zealand section compares excellently with what the rest of the world is doing. There are fine examples of the work of Miss Wiseman herself, who has ventured into colour in one or two instances, Arnold Goodwin, Trevor Lloyd, Connie Lloyd, D. J. Payne, A. W. Warner, A. Hamilton, T. V. Gulliver, Pascoe Redwood, Olive Lloyd, Rina Pagni, Thelma Moxon. H. Tomquist and Eunice Buchanan. Miss Connie Lloyd has one decidedly original bookplate consisting of her thumbprint, her signature, and a border design of Maori carving. The American section contains examples of the work of Timothy Cole and some original bookplates by Ruth j Saur.ders. j Australia produces some line work, ! and included in this section is one ! bookplate by the late W. S. Percy, a j comedian who frequently toured New ! Zealand. Bookplates by Lionel Lind- ! sav, J. J. Hilder, Roy Davies, Phillip Lichfield. Harry Weston and Adrian ! Feint are to be seen and form an interesting collection. Feint is a. master of design, as an inspection of i his work will show. Sidney Hunt has produced the best work in tho English section. He is secretary of the Ex Libris Society of England, and in most instances has followed the moderns in his ideas. Harold Nelson, Waller Crane, Charles Bryant are also represented. The Russian bookplates, particularly those of J. Rerberg, are intensely interesting, and are by artists of today. Their simplicity is astonishing. Most of the artists of Spain apparently design bookplates for Sigales, a noted collector. The exhibition will be opened on | Monday afternoon at 3 o’clock by .the ! Mayoress. Mrs. Campbell, and Miss i Ellen Melville, chairman of the Library Committee. In all probability t vo more exhibitions will be held this year, including one of the New Zealand graphic arts.