We don’t have an image of this object online yet. V&A Images may have a photograph that we can’t show online, but it may be possible to supply one to you. Email us at vaimages@vam.ac.uk for guidance about fees and timescales, quoting the accession number: E.1448-1993
Find out about our images

Image of Gallery in South Kensington
Request to view at the Prints & Drawings Study Room, level C , Case EE, Shelf 223

Ex-libris U. Sienienski

Print
1925 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Although he spent most of his adult life living in Paris, the painter and graphic artist Konstanty Brandel often visited his native Poland and continued to consider himself a Polish artist. His work may be described as Symbolist and has much in common with that of figures such as Odilon Redon and Gustave Doré, although Hieronymus Bosch, Giovanni Battista Piranesi and Francisco de Goya have also been cited as possible influences.

Brandel’s imagery often includes fantastical architecture or disturbing landscapes peopled by strange flying or floating beings. He also produced other material, such as portraits and ex-libris plates for book collectors, designed to suggest their taste, personality or achievements.

This ex-libris was made for an international grain trader. It shows the collector’s portrait in a lozenge with, on one side, an ocean-going liner and, on the other, a house with the sun rising beside it. The lozenge itself is supported on a sheaf of grain and surmounted by a crowned phoenix and a tree.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleEx-libris U. Sienienski (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Drypoint
Brief description
Konstanty Brandel: " Ex Libris U Sienienski", drypoint, 1925.
Physical description
A portrait in profile, in a lozenge supported with a cornstook and bushes. A crowned phoenix behind; in the lozenge behind the portrait: to the left a house and a rising sun; to the right a steamship on an ocean. Inscribed as part of the image with Sienienski's name and 'Ex Libris'
Dimensions
  • Plate height: 8.2cm
  • Plate width: 5.5cm
  • Sheet height: 25cm
  • Sheet width: 16.5cm
Style
Production typeLimited edition
Marks and inscriptions
KB (Artist's stamp in red below plate to the right.)
Credit line
Given by the artist’s uncle, Witold Leitgeber
Subject depicted
Summary
Although he spent most of his adult life living in Paris, the painter and graphic artist Konstanty Brandel often visited his native Poland and continued to consider himself a Polish artist. His work may be described as Symbolist and has much in common with that of figures such as Odilon Redon and Gustave Doré, although Hieronymus Bosch, Giovanni Battista Piranesi and Francisco de Goya have also been cited as possible influences.

Brandel’s imagery often includes fantastical architecture or disturbing landscapes peopled by strange flying or floating beings. He also produced other material, such as portraits and ex-libris plates for book collectors, designed to suggest their taste, personality or achievements.

This ex-libris was made for an international grain trader. It shows the collector’s portrait in a lozenge with, on one side, an ocean-going liner and, on the other, a house with the sun rising beside it. The lozenge itself is supported on a sheaf of grain and surmounted by a crowned phoenix and a tree.
Associated objects
Bibliographic reference
Konstanty Brandel Muzeum Narodow w Warszawie, Galeria Szfuki Wspolczesnej. Warsaw Listopad- grudzien 1977. Prints cat no. 219
Collection
Accession number
E.1448-1993

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdAugust 31, 2006
Record URL
Download as: JSON