'MOETWILLIG', as in the name of the Jozef Moetwillig Private Press, is a pun: 'moet' stands for the impression made by lead type on the paper; 'moedwillig' means wilful, or even malicious. Jozef Moetwillig is a pseudonym of Jos Brabants, the founder and the moving spirit behind the Jozef Moetwillig private press. At fifty-five, after a long career as a Dutch language teacher, Brabants/Moetwillig bought himself a platen, which in 1995 he installed in his backyard workshop. Since then, twenty-three publications have been printed. At the time of his visit, Brabants was about to print a new book: De Sulamitische, 53 sonnetten by the Flemish essayist and poet Frans Boenders.

To be quite honest, the Jozef Moetwillig press is not just a matter of wilfulness, it is foremost a deliberate choice: Jos Brabants wants to deal with and serve endangered poetry, precious paper and genuine printing ink. When still a teacher, he was always keen on making poetry publicly present and visible, e.g. by printing poetry posters. A poet himself, Brabants wrote reviews about juvenile literature. Through Ronald Ergo (†) he became acquainted with handmade paper and private printing. 

A self-taught printer, Jos Brabants learned the craft through intensive practise and the study of printing techniques books such as Jan Tschichold's The Proportions of the Book. After buying the right type, a proofing press and a cutting machine, the real work could start. In 1995, he printed his first book Weke handen (Tender Hands), its content belonging rather to Jos Brabants' family background: his father's poems.

The printer has enjoyed seeing one of his books awarded by the Dutch Foundation L.J. Coster and selected for 'Mooi Marginaal' 2002-2003: Een valies met dromen ( A Box With Dreams), which contains thirteen travel poems by different authors. The book is stitched between grey cardboard and goes with a fine wooden casette which Brabants designed and made. To him, paper choice is always important. In Een valies met dromen he chose Nepalese paper of a coarse structure on which a drawing by Sam Dillemans is reproduced. The jury of 'Mooi Marginaal' had only one objection: the object's 'exorbitant' ambition - showing perhaps the gap dividing Flemish Baroque and Dutch sober matter-of-factness.

The private press' latest book,  Wat weet ik? / Que sçais-je?, was published in October 2008 featuring dr. Paul Claes'  translation of Montaigne aphorisms. The texts in Greek, Latin and  Dutch are set in Greek type and in Garamond 12 pt and are printed on Caxton cream-white paper. Only 25 copies were made. A de luxe edition in a slip-case contains a fine vernis-mou etching  by Karel Dierickx which was printed in the workshop of Henri Hemelsoet (†), ‘De Zachte Klaarte’.  Translator, poet and novelist Paul Claes and painter Karel Dierickx  are both famous for the quality of their work.

An insight in the work of Jozef Moetwillig Publishing House and Press can be found in the up to date list of publications.  For more information, please go to  'Drukwerk in de Marge' website.

 

Wilfried ONZEA ©

(in 'Parenthesis' 18, pp. 8-9, Spring 2010)