Paperblanks Picaresque Bookmark

Never lose your place again with this beautifully crafted Picaresque bookmark from Paperblanks – the perfect companion for a favourite novel or journal, and a delightful little gift.

The archetype of the appealing anti-hero is encapsulated in Gil Blas, the star of Alain-René Lesage’s 18th-century picaresque novel. Lesage’s work was influenced by the story Lazarillo de Tormes, a Spanish novella published anonymously in 1554. The cover of an 1846 double publication of those works is reproduced here.

The Story Behind the Design

Don Quixote, Samuel Pickwick, Sebastian Dangerfield, Huckleberry Finn... the archetype of the rascally yet endearing rogue is one with which we are all familiar, though we may not know its origins. And perhaps no character encapsulates what it means to be an appealing anti-hero more than Gil Blas, the star of Alain-René Lesage’s picaresque novel by the same name.

Picaresque novels blend elements of comedy and satire in their depictions of a lovable charlatan. Published in the early 1700s, Gil Blas has been described by Edgar Allan Poe as being among “the finest narratives in the world” and was a key item on Thomas Jefferson’s reading list. And though it has come to define the genre, Lesage’s work itself was influenced by the story Lazarillo de Tormes, a novella published anonymously in 1554. This Spanish work is what gives us the term “picaresque,” stemming from picaresca, meaning “rascal,” and it established the key features of a “picaro” character – a lower-class person surviving by their own wits in what is seen as a corrupt or unjust society.

These two foundational works of the picaresque genre were published together in 1846, and our cover design recreates that publication’s binding. May the spirits of the charming rapscallions Gil Blas and Lázaro inspire you to go rogue and ramble on in your own quixotic adventures.

• Original artwork: Book binding containing Gil Blas and Lazarillo de Tormes
• Era: 1846 binding, 16th- and 18th-century stories
• Region: France

Product Details

• Dimensions: 40 × 185 × 1 mm
• Design: Picaresque
• Double-sided design
• Decorative printed paper
• Textured printing
• Rounded edges
• Subtle Paperblanks branding
• Weight: 10 g
• Product code: PA9934-5 | ISBN: 9781439799345

About Paperblanks

Paperblanks works with museums, libraries, galleries and artists around the world to faithfully reproduce remarkable artwork, historic bindings and treasured manuscripts, bringing the same care and craftsmanship found in its celebrated journals to every accessory.