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Sergio Burzi
Ex Libris Chiromanticis for Gino Sabattini, Woodcut, Mid-20th Century

Mid-20th Century

$227.39
£170.24
€200VAT Included
CA$320.99
A$330.94
CHF 186.42
MX$4,234.75
NOK 2,151.06
SEK 2,249.88
DKK 1,525.42

About the Item

Woodcut print on paper. Signed in the plate, not numbered. A striking and deliberately macabre composition devoted to the theme of pestilence and epidemic disease. At the centre, a man in historical dress strides forward carrying the limp body of a woman across his shoulders. Her inverted figure, with long hair and lifeless arms hanging downward, gives the image an immediate sense of physical weight and mortality. The carrier’s bent posture and lowered head reinforce the sombre character of the scene. Burzi reduces the setting almost entirely to the two figures, isolating them against an empty ground within a severe rectangular frame. The economy of the black line, punctuated by areas of heavier shadow, lends the composition the directness of a woodcut or popular illustrated broadside. The elongated, Art Nouveau-inflected lettering of the surrounding inscription provides a decorative counterpoint to the grim subject. The inscription “De Peste” (“on the plague”) indicates that the bookplate was conceived for the section of Sabattini’s library devoted to plague, epidemic disease or related historical literature. As such, it belongs to the unusual group of thematic Ex Libris created for Gino Sabattini, in which individual designs identify particular subjects within the collector’s library rather than merely denoting ownership. Good overall condition for its age. The cream paper displays general toning, scattered foxing and localized discoloration, particularly toward the upper margin. Faint traces of former mounting or corner adhesion are visible around the margins.
  • Creator:
    Sergio Burzi
  • Creation Year:
    Mid-20th Century
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 3.94 in (10 cm)Width: 3.15 in (8 cm)Depth: 0.04 in (1 mm)
  • Medium:
    Woodcut
  • Movement & Style:
    Symbolist
  • Period:
    Mid-20th Century
  • Framing:
    Framing Options Available
  • Condition:
    Insurance may be requested by customers as additional service, contact us for more information.
  • Gallery Location:
    Roma, IT
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: T-1619761stDibs: LU650318770992

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