The Artistry of Books, as seen in Book Studies
Arkadiusz WAGNER
Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń , Polandhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-9525-0579
Abstract
The article comprises a set of observations, as well as reflections, on broadly conceived artistry of books and it is written from the point of view of an art historian, as well as a book researcher and a bibliophile. Diverse aspects of the artistry of books have been discussed, among them the obvious ones related to the field of visual arts, as well as ones that tend to be underestimated, i.e., those of materials (paper, parchment, leather) serving as base surface to the text, illustrations or bookbinding decoration. In each case the problem is scrutinized by tracing the ‘way’ leading from the ‘inside’ of the book to its ‘outside.’ Hence the first objects of analysis are parchment and paper (including different grades of decorative papers); then the research focus is shifted to other aspects, namely, writing (handwriting and printed text), page compositions, illumination and book graphics, illustration printing, graphic books, book bindings, and finally new trends in the art of the book. The text concludes with an attempt to define the direction the artistry of books and bibliophilia will take in the 21st century.
