Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1886-10-03
PICTORIAL METHODS.
EXTENT TO WHICH THEY ORE APP
Piled IN COMMERCE

A Great Extension of Illustrative Art
New Processes In Use-Departure In
Wood EngrayIng-The Railing Machine
Beautiful Work Done.
The extraordinary extent TO which va
rious pictorial methods have been ap-
piled artistically for commercial purposes
is a marked feature Of the recent devel-
opmeut OF the industrial arts in this coun-
try. In nearly all departments Of ad-
vertising by paper and ink, a degree OF
taste is required to-day, which a few
years ago, would have been considered
ridiculously e~xtravagant. To q class OF
work which formerly would have been
considered satisfactorily executed with
the meaneSt kind Of paper and the rudest
Typography, an amount OF care, taste and
expenditure is oiteu devoted which would
be worthy the finest magazine work.
Some Of the commercial catalogues got
ten out arr so beautifully done that they
are eagerly sought by collectors; there
are great manufacturing concerns which
ever spend from $4,000 to 5000 0 in get
ting up an llIuSLrdIcu Catalogue.
VARIOUS NEW PROCESSES.
The various new processes Of illustra-
ton nave brought about a great extension
Of pictorial art and its application to a
variety OF new purposes. The old arts OF
wood and steel engaying have likewise
seen a similar expansion, although it was
prophesied at one time that the new pro-
cesses would work their substantial eX-
tinction. But it seems to be the rule that
the invention Of new processes so en-
larges the field as to develop new uses for
the old ones, and an Improvement
of the same. This has notably been the
case with wood engraving, which, since
the invention Of process work by the aid
of photography, has achieved a degree OF
delicacy of manipulation hardly dreamed
Of before. 1t has therefore been applied
to new purposes for which process-work
would harly be available.
Akin to the new departure in wood en-
craving is that brought about in steel en-
craving by the uses found for the ruling
machine. This art was most familiar in
its application to the production OF copies
Of famous paintings, often admired for re-
markable technical correctness in line
and stipple, but so cold and ~lifeless that,
in connection with the black walnut II
haircloth furniture Of the era to which
they belonged, they sent a chilling shud-
der through the beholder as If Fremont
tory or the funeral ceremonies which
seemed to be the ultimate design of the
gloomy apartments with which they were
associated. Thence its uses ranged down
kk.o,,-L kLn N, hnl1ishDnan Of aThcarin-
ton volumes, town histories, and the
like, with portraits Of various worthless
and local magnates, to the production Of
bank-note work and visiting cards.
THE RULING MACHINE.
The ruling machine, however, popular
lied the art through the cheapnesS and
facility with which the work was accom-
plished, and in the wood-engraving, ena-
bled the easy production of effects which,
il attainable by the old means, were sell
dom, il ever, attained. While the pains
taking old engraver might be scornful OF
the technique of the new work, IL was IN
deniable that effects of texture and at
mosphere rich velvety blacks, and deli
cate graduations were reached, together
with a warmth and sympathy which had
previously hOI DCCh dSSOSALNCu
engraving. These effects were first no.
ticed in humorous Japanese-like designs
which were highly popular a few years
age, and which were among the
first applications Of Japanese art prin-
ciples in the Occident. These came into
great demand for commercial work Of va
rious kinds, such as programmes, dane
ing-cards, advertising circulars, etc, and
shown in Europe, were much admired as
examples of American art. Since then,
steel engraving has been in steady de-
mand for such purposes, and in artistic
merit there has been o continued i'm
provements.
The beautiful work done for the recent
bankers convention Is an instance Of this
the simple elegance Of the invitations,
with the two sides of the so gold piece on
the front, as the appropriate standard Of
financial strength; and the exquisite
beauty of the menu cards for the banquet
at the Parker house, the main feature of
which was a simple Japanese-like motive;
two birds sitting costly on a branch. the
effect of the black and white heightened
and enriched by hand painting, with three
simple hues deftly and broadly applied;
subdued red and blue to the plumage and
some touches Of green to the few leaves
on the bough, the whole making a beau
tiful combination Of delicacy, warmth
and simplicity Of design, showing with
rare effect on the contrasting ground of
almost ivory like thick cardboard. On
the back was a medallion of Washington
with palm branches, a fitting symbol of
integrity -PoSton Herald.