Cozy up with a book for National Library Week
Page from “La guirlande.” M. François Bernouard, 1919. Smithsonian Libraries and Archives.
Could this be the perfect weekend? This dreamy library scene is from the pages of “La Guirlande” (1919), a limited-edition design publication with 800 numbered copies. The title in Smithsonian Libraries and Archives is noted as a gift of “the Misses Hewitt, 1921-1922,” founding sisters of Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum.
The vibrant illustrations in “La Guirlande” were created using the pochoir stenciling process, characterized by crisp lines and brilliant colors, producing images that have a freshly printed or wet appearance.
Flip through more stylized images from “La Guirlande” in digitized copies online.
The Smithsonian has had a library since its founding.Today, Smithsonian Libraries and Archives has nearly 3 million items across 21 libraries and an institutional archives that support the Smithsonian and researchers worldwide. You can explore thousands of books online, anytime—no library card required.