The artwork “Ex libris van A.M.E. van Dishoeck” is a creation by the renowned artist M.C. Escher, dating back to 1943. Classified under the genre of a poster, this piece is often associated with the Expressionist movement, despite Escher not typically being categorized within a specific art movement. Escher’s work is distinctive for its mathematical precision and often contains elements of the fantastical.
The artwork itself is a graphic black and white representation, likely a woodcut or linocut, that features a central motif of a crested book set ablaze within an urn or basket. The flames rise fiercely, wrapping around the crest, suggesting a fervent energy. Below the flaming urn, the book from which it seems to emerge, bears the phrase “EX LIBRIS” in bold lettering, which translates from Latin to “from the books” or “from the library of”, indicating the artwork’s function as a bookplate for A.M.E. van Dishoeck. Above the urn, the name “A.M.E. VAN DISHOECK” is prominently displayed. The artwork also rests atop another book or pedestal, providing a solid foundation to the composition. The interplay of light and dark, along with the expressive lines and contrasts characteristic of the Expressionist movement, elicits a drama that honors the personal library of the individual commemorated by the bookplate.