The New York herald., 1873-10-18
illustrated Journalism.

The advance in illustrated journalism keeps
pace not only with the progress of journalism
proper in cleverly depicting, in its own way,
occurrences of interest all over the world,
but continues to improve the style of its
art in doing so The rapidity accu-
racy and finish with which it gives us
graphic reproductions of scenes to be forever
memorable in history are wonderful, when we
recall the necessarily slow nature of similar
productions before the days OF the
art special correspondent and before the
refnements in the art of printing which
allow of the application of the steam
press to the printing of the highest style OF
wood engraving. What could be accomplished
by the wood engraver was known since the
careful process of reproduction made it seem
impossible that the same effects could be pro-
duced with the rapidity necessary to meet the
growing demand of the masses for the aid
of art in portraying passing events Since
becoming the art reporter of the world illus
trated journalism has marched steadily with
its elder brother the pen-picturer, and stands
by with ready pencil on all important occa-
sions to supplement his work. In the worthy
reproduction of those gems of art a glimpse
at which before the triumphant days of the
illustrated paper was only obtainable by the
fortunate few, this branch Of journalism
has succeeded in spreading the taste for
the aesthetic among the people in an ex-
traordinary manner. The works Of the
masters ore laid before eyes accustomed
only to gaze on very limited and prosaic
portion Of the earth's surface, and the beauti-
full speaks to the heart in its tenderest tone.
The most humble, through the pages of the
illustrated paper, can feel the vibrations of
the great heart of the art genius, and the
praise Of the critic and the adulation of the art
votary become at once Ineligible. The faces
Of men and women remarkable for the hour
are brought home to thousands, who, without
the illustrated papers aid, would have many
grave misconceptions Of the physique of the
leaders in the world of THOUGHT and action.
The daily paper gives the living thought Of
the thinker or records the actions Of the
living hero; the illustrated paper, in its sepa-
more strongly to the man by showing his
face.
In Europe the illustrated paper has attained
high rate of excellence. The London
Graphic and the Illustrated London Neacs lead
the way in London, and lie Monde Iuustrf in
Paris has long earned its high reputation In
the branch Of illustrated journalism which
deals with satire and humor the Paris Chari-
rari has been sustained by caricaturists Of
rare ability. It's younger brother, the Lon
don Punch, has been served by succession Of
brilliant men, of which Doyle Leech and
Teniel, Kean and Du Maurier are only
few. The broad German humor of the Berlin
Klddderadatsch, though not exhibiting the same
subtlety Of art treatment as those previously
named, has won an honorable place. Italy,
the land of artists and of pasquinade, gives
us the Pasquino from Florence and the Fis-
Ghetto from Turin. The cartoon drawings in
the latter paper, produced by lithography, are
marvels Of keen humor and fine artistic skill.
Turning to America, we find the field
Of illustrated journalism filed in
IA manner that speaks highly for
the enterprise Of its directors and
the appreciation Of the people. One Of its
peculiarities is that satirical and humorous
periodicals, such as the Chariuari, find no con-
geners of high-art type here. The illus
trated journals proper have absorbed this
branch Of art SO completely that purely satir-
ical and humorous papers of any literary
pretensions have failed to live. Of course in
an empirical age like the present the exper-
iment has been made repeatedly oremost
among the illustrated journals of the country
Harper's Weekly and Hanc Leslie's Illustrated
Paper claim recognition. ALI that unweary-
ing enterprise and liberal outlay can secure
in the way of its art may be
seen in the pictorial pages of Frank
Leslie's from week to week. While the
scenes that catch the worlds eye on the wide
theatre Of the Old World are reproduced with
fidelity, it is emphatically an American illus
trated paper. The natural wonders of our
broad land are depicted in their endless
variety it studies the phases of our social
life, in its pleasurings and follies, as well
as in its greater actualities It's pungent
cartoons have also obtained their due place
in the ranks of pictorial wit A German
edition of this paper, the luAstrirte Zeit,sng,
brings an explanation of the engravings home
to our fellow citizens from Fatherland, and
its Ladies Journal is devoted in part to the
female art of dressing well. In the same
branch Of journalism Harpr's Weekly has
held q place Of high merit The boldly con-
ceived and brilliantly executed political car
toons of Mast have won for this paper a
worldwide reputation, although their strong
personality has often lowered their permanent
worth by taking from the dignity which
belongs to true art-the art which is long,