The historical evolution of ex-libris

Abstract

The study presents an analysis on the evolution of the art of ex-libris. It was established that throughout the centuries, culture, status, artistic movements, and technology shaped bookplate design. Each design flows out of the previous ones and incorporates symbolic elements iconic in the society of the time. During the Renaissance, greater attention was placed on the coat of arms, indicating the status of the family, while in the modern times it allowed greater creativity and portrayed the owner through everyday objects. Nowadays, ex-libris are of great interest to collectors and historians alike.