Exlibris 4 interpretation

[Dean Perdue]

Another crazy exlibris from the 1920's that I thought was cool and felt fortunate that it was offered.
I loved the look of youth resenting the fact of age wants youth.Thats just my initial take on it and don't know if that was the intended message.
If anyone would care to give info about the peice or their preception on what they feel it's about I'd love to hear different angles.
The art was described to be on handmade paper (whatever that means) and Beethoven oriented.
Thanks

[Dean Perdue]

Closer up

[Skinny]

I dunno Dean, that's a hard one to read. The younger one doesn't look all that young to me. Perhaps it just represents the inevitable passing of time, which the proud figure doesn't want to acknowledge. Anyway, handmade paper probably refers to rag paper, handmade on a screen. If you hold it to the light, do you see chain lines in it?

[regularjoe2]

Karl Ritter (1888-1987) .

That's Kept (standing with the violin) , Liszt (low on the ground) & Beethovens' death-mask in the clouds .

There's a couple of these for sale right now in Europe for $30 Euros + shipping .

[sapphire]

Dean, he certainly seems to run a similar theme through many of his works.......youth, age, death, beauty, ugliness......and in several, cranes (or other birds).  Extremely interesting and thought provoking to say the least! 

http://blogs.yahoo.co.jp/ayu117/17322507.html

[Dean Perdue]

Thank you for the great responses.

Skinny- Good thought on meaning and well put.
Excellent way to look at it that didn't enter my mind til your comment.Awesome concept and definately food for thought.So cool how 2 people can look at the same picture and get something different out of it.

I took your advice and held it up to the light and am seeing a large graph like area made up of around 20 squares almost appearing as it had dried out on a rack and there's lots of varying amounts of pulp from area to area.Thanks for the intresting tip on this.

Regularjoe2- Kept & Liszt w/Beethovens death mask huh?
Is this a story that follows a Beethoven symphony?I'll have to run a search with these new useful key names.Appreciate your knowledge on this.

Sapphire-That was nice to be able to check out some of his additional works thanks to the link you supplied.
We were talking about what does it for us in art as far as quality,message,technique,or whatever floats the veiwers boat and your word of 'thought provoking' wasn't even mentioned but seems to be dead on the number one reason that makes art appealing to me.
So great to hear you mention this word that nobody could seem to come up with in the conversation yet pertains so much to the aspect of art.

Very helpful guys.Thanks tons.

[sapphire]

Can't seem to get the 'translation' to hold the page, so here it is in it's original German.  Yours is there. 


 http://www.exlibriscw.de/shop/start.htm?ritter,_karl.htm

[sapphire]

Dean, did a bit of a read on Liszt and  these two portions seemed to stand out (along with a few others) in relation to your book plate.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franz_Liszt

On devoting much of his energy and income to worthy causes....

"Liszt heard that plans for a Beethoven monument in Bonn were in danger of collapse for lack of funds, and pledged his support. Doing so meant returning to the life of a touring virtuoso."

On his declining health.....

"He became increasingly plagued with feelings of desolation, despair and death—feelings which he expressed in his works from this period. As he told Lina Ramann, "I carry a deep sadness of the heart which must now and then break out in sound." "



And another Liszt/Beethoven reference....

http://www.lvbeethoven.com/Bio/BiographyCantataLiszt.html

"Franz Liszt composed his "Cantata for the inauguration of the Beethoven Monument at Bonn", on May 12th 1845." 

The lyrics make a bold statement as to Liszt's reverence of Beethoven and his work.


Personally I think your book plate is a story in and of itself. Awesome find!

[Dean Perdue]

Many thanks Sapphire for your time in researching this and bringing all the info forward.Enjoyed reading it all plus seeing all those beautiful exlibrises was excellent.That was one talented dude for sure.The Beethoven death mask is making a little more scence now.

[fancypants]

Karl Ritter made about 10 -15 'ex libris' -themed pieces that are known .

Below is one , c1923 for 'erotic book' purposes & there was one more with the same-ish themed , c1921 .

Mr. Karl had a naughty side too , it seems .
It's rumored that he made this one for himself .

Perhaps the 'roaring twenties' influenced the two erotic ones .