Daniel Chodowiecki's Own Bookplate

Bookplates (ex-librises) can contain interesting symbols which allow to indicate who the owner was, what he did for a living, and sometimes, especially when it is a personal bookplate that an artist made for himself, it includes allusions to his interests and passions. Therefore, a bookplate may not only be a sign of ownership, but also a source of knowledge about the owner.

In his own bookplate, Daniel Chodowiecki depicted Mother Nature with several breasts symbolising abundance and fertility. A boy sucks milk from one of the breasts, which can be interpreted as drawing from nature. The scene is shown as if through a window frame bearing the artist’s name, with a palette, brushes and drawing utensils placed above the name. The accessories indicate the owner of the bookplate’s profession, while the allegorical figure – his most important source of inspiration.
Various additions to the composition indicate a close observation of nature and a keen eye for small elements of everyday life.