Decorating the edges of book pages is a tradition that goes back hundreds of years but, sadly, it's a craft that's all but disappeared. Happily, a British artist is doing her best to revive or, at least, preserve the art form.
Maisie Matilda carries on the tradition of fore-edge book painting by upcycling used books into treasured possessions. While this art form is niche and demanding, it transforms even second-hand books into much more precious objects. Hopefully more artists as well as book-lovers will find appreciation in these artistic renditions.
“I have always loved art and fantasy literature, so I decided to turn my passions into a career,” she explained to My Modern Met. “A few years ago I began my craft, fore-edge painting, and I have been doing it almost every day since. I mostly work on fantasy novels, but have also tried out some classic literature too.”
You can purchase available painted books via Matilda's Etsy shop, and keep up to date with her latest projects by following her Instagram. Here are a handful of photos of her work to give you an idea of what she's up to...
All photos credit: Maisie Matilda