Woodcut print on wove paper.
Not signed nor numbered.
A remarkable Symbolist Ex Libris created for Gino Sabattini, distinguished by its enigmatic medieval-inspired iconography and philosophical inscription. The composition depicts a richly attired knight embracing a nude female figure crowned with a crescent-shaped headdress while presenting a chalice, a traditional symbol of knowledge, initiation, or spiritual revelation. Beside the figures appears the Italian motto "Chi vuol esser lieta sia, doman non v'è certezza"("Let those who wish to be joyful do so, for tomorrow is uncertain"), the celebrated refrain from Lorenzo de' Medici's Canzona di Bacco, a Renaissance meditation on the transience of life and the necessity of embracing the present.
Executed in a deliberately archaizing style, the print recalls the expressive language of late Gothic and early Renaissance woodcuts through its dense network of engraved lines, flattened perspective, and monumental treatment of the figures. The juxtaposition of medieval costume, allegorical nudity, symbolic attributes, and humanistic quotation creates a sophisticated visual programme exploring the themes of carpe diem, earthly pleasure, and the fleeting nature of existence. The decorative inscription and the boldly cut lettering "Ex Libris Gino Sabattini" integrate seamlessly into the composition, reinforcing the intimate relationship between image and text that characterizes the finest examples of twentieth-century bibliophilic graphics.
This Ex Libris exemplifies the revival of historical models that marked Italian bookplate...
Category
Early 20th Century Symbolist Figurative Prints