DOI Heft:
No. 104 (November, 1901)
DOI Artikel:Uzanne, Octave: Paul Kersten's decorative leather work
DOI Seite / Zitierlink: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.19874#0126
Paul Kerstens Leather Work
workmanship, which was absolutely perfect from
the technical point of view, the touch of real art
was invariably lacking, and they remained bastard
art at best, bereft as they were of the penetrating
beauty, the original and captivating grace insepar-
able from work inspired by genius from within.
Since then, schools of binding, ornamentation
and gilding have been established in Germany,
notably those of Otto Horn, Wilhelm Patizelt, and
Alfred Kullmann. Here intelligent and devoted
teachers inculcated to hundreds of hard-working
students the principles of art as applied to leather;
they taught the aesthetics of binding, expounded the
difficulties of gilding on morocco, and aroused a
sense of curiosity as to new decorative motifs,
always going straight to Nature for inspiration, and
carefully considering the demands of the space to
be ornamented; finally they were careful to insist
on the irreconcilable difference between true art
BOOKBINDING BY P. KERSTEN
binding and the Paccotille morocco work, which
too long burdened the German market with its
exaggerated floral graces and lavish gilding.
Gradually an improvement was apparent in the
productions of the leading binders, who had taken
advantage of the practical knowledge acquired by
certain students who had distinguished themselves
BOOKBINDING BY I'. KERSTEN
at the new schools. Thus a steady renovation set in,
which, young as it is, cannot be overlooked; and
there can be no doubt that ten or a dozen years
hence German art binding will command universal
admiration, if, as there is every reason to hope,
BOOKBINDING BY P. KERSTEN
"3
workmanship, which was absolutely perfect from
the technical point of view, the touch of real art
was invariably lacking, and they remained bastard
art at best, bereft as they were of the penetrating
beauty, the original and captivating grace insepar-
able from work inspired by genius from within.
Since then, schools of binding, ornamentation
and gilding have been established in Germany,
notably those of Otto Horn, Wilhelm Patizelt, and
Alfred Kullmann. Here intelligent and devoted
teachers inculcated to hundreds of hard-working
students the principles of art as applied to leather;
they taught the aesthetics of binding, expounded the
difficulties of gilding on morocco, and aroused a
sense of curiosity as to new decorative motifs,
always going straight to Nature for inspiration, and
carefully considering the demands of the space to
be ornamented; finally they were careful to insist
on the irreconcilable difference between true art
BOOKBINDING BY P. KERSTEN
binding and the Paccotille morocco work, which
too long burdened the German market with its
exaggerated floral graces and lavish gilding.
Gradually an improvement was apparent in the
productions of the leading binders, who had taken
advantage of the practical knowledge acquired by
certain students who had distinguished themselves
BOOKBINDING BY I'. KERSTEN
at the new schools. Thus a steady renovation set in,
which, young as it is, cannot be overlooked; and
there can be no doubt that ten or a dozen years
hence German art binding will command universal
admiration, if, as there is every reason to hope,
BOOKBINDING BY P. KERSTEN
"3