Vasyl Fenchak is widely considered to be one of the best modern engravers in a tradition for which his home country, Ukraine, is notably prominent. His detailed and carefully composed prints draw on a wide range of classical and ancient stories, combining powerful symbolism with rich background textures. Subjects with an erotic dimension – Leda and the Swan, Ariadne, Calypso, The Judgement of Paris, Susanna and the Elders – are among his favourites.

As well as engraving, Fenchak sometimes creates colourful watercolours, two of which are shown here.

Many of Fenchak’s commissions are for ex libris or bookplates. The first known ex libris – a Latin phrase meaning ‘from the library of’ – are woodcuts from the fifteenth century, displaying the owner’s name and coat of arms. Through the centuries ex libris designers came up with ever more artful and imaginative designs for their clients’ libraries, inspiring a mania for collecting bookplates which lasted from the final quarter of the nineteenth century until the 1930s.

Today ex libris are once again in demand, eagerly sought by specialised collectors, and there are websites, fairs and exhibitions dedicated to the artform. Many plates are now produced as signed and numbered small format fine art prints, known as ‘free’ ex libris, never intended to be glued inside books but instead to be framed and displayed in the library of the client fortunate enough to be able to afford to commission it. In recent years there has been a definite trend towards erotic subjects for bookplates, partly a throwback to the 1920s and 30s and partly to explore the potential of engraving techniques.