The Bookbinder at Work

An iconic woodcut by Theo Molkenboer.

Here is a small version of the famous poster made in woodcut by the famous Dutch artist Th.H.A.A. Molkenboer (1871-1920). The image shows the bookbinder Elias P. van Bommel at work on a binding, and was first used in a poster to advertise the bookbindery (1897). The woodcut is monogrammed in the lower left: Thm in the edge of the table.

The poster was used to advertise Van Bommel's business, and was later reproduced for an advertisement in the periodical 'Het Huis, Oud & Nieuw; Maandelijksch prentenboek gewijd aan huis-inrichting, bouw en sierkunst'. This periodical was published from 1905 until 1927 and contained the advertisement for Van Bommel's bookbindery until at least 1917 ⁽¹⁾.

As the original poster had a size of 45 x 60 cm., our print (8 x 7,5 cm.) was certainly not cropped from the poster. The periodical has a smaller size, obviously, but small details in the image differ from our woodcut. Most strikingly, the advertisement in "Het Huis, Oud & Nieuw" features two small dots, left and right of the monogramme. Some of the smaller details in the clothing (creases) and lines in the bookbinder's face are also lacking from our copy ⁽²⁾.

Another variant of the same image is in the periodical 'Nieuwsblad voor den Boekhandel' ⁽³⁾, a book industry magazine. However, that version is signed with the full name "Th. Molkenboer" lower left. So far, then, this particular instance of the iconic bookbinder at work remains a bit of a mystery. The poster was actually hailed as one of the most beautiful made in the Netherlands at the time in an early study on Dutch posters by M.D. Henkel⁽¹⁾. It is a striking image, and a great example of Molkenboer's succes as a graphic artist.

Notes:

1. J.F. Heijbroek: "Bij de Voorplaat", in 'De Boekenwereld', Jaargang 7, pp. 20-22.
2. 'Het Huis, Oud & Nieuw', Jaargang 4, 1906, pp. 415.
3. 'Nieuwsblad voor den boekhandel', 1913, no. 39, p. 677.