Beauty on the Edge

Books can be full of surprises! One of the Kunstmuseum Library’s most recent ac­quisitions, a book titled “Little Beasts”, hides a secret. When I fanned the pages, a stunning picture of butterflies and flow­ers printed on the book’s fore-edge ap­peared as if by magic. Closing the book causes the image to disappear.

The first time I encountered a fore-edge illustration, I was working as a rare book librarian at the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, Stratford-upon-Avon, England. While examining an 1823 edition of Shake­speare’s works, I came across a charming fore-edge painting of Anne Hathaway’s cottage, where Shakespeare met his wife, Anne Hathaway (not the actress!).

Fore-edge paintings have a long history dating back to the 10th century. The earli­est examples featured heraldic motifs, the author’s name or a library shelf mark. In those early days, the purpose was identifi­cation, not beautification.

The creation and concealment of a fore-edge painting require remarkable skill. Even more awe-inspiring are double fore-edge paintings where two different imag­es appear depending on which direction you fan the pages. Occasionally, artists add a third or fourth scene on the top and bottom edges of the pages, known as panoramic fore-edge paintings.

It’s always a more-than-pleasant surprise to discover a hidden image while flicking through a book’s pages. You can request the Kunstmuseum Library’s book on little beasts via our library catalogue. Check it out! I’m sure it’ll make your day!

Written by BY Mareike Doleschal