Sacramento daily record-union., 1888-10-13
ADVANCE IN ILLUSTRATION.

1ue huVanCe IN the metnOd or llluSrat-
ing magazines and books has in recent
years outstripped almost all other progress
sive art movements. The men are indeed,
yet young who can recall the rude efforts
OF an earlier period, beside which the en-
cravings for periodicals III this day are as
superior as the works of master over
those of tyro. The splendid illustrations
ID children's books, to say nothing of the
exquisite works for adults, mark progress
that may be not inaptly termed " rush."
Perhaps in no department of illustration
has there been more of forward move
ment than in the processes that have
photography, in one form or another, for
their initial point. 1t is these which give
US those lifelike and striking pictures,
almost stereoscopic, and those soft and hazy
| effects so closely resembling the photograph
and yet infinitely softer, and greatly free
from the exactness and angular accurate
ness of the machine picture.
The wood engraver and the etcher have
| not been behindhand; the former has, in
deed, not been outstripped by the photo
and many soft processes. He has, within
the last ten years, achieved so high plane
of execution that it is almost marvellous,
and that twenty years ago would not have
been deemed possible of attainment Let
any who feel doubtful concerning this
fact turn back to the old magazine
files and examine the wood engraving of
the earlier period. In steel and copper
plate there has not been so much of pro-
gress made. The cutting is not to day
finer than it was fifty years ago. but it is
bolder, more vigorous and less attention is
given TO producing the effects representing
the work of the India-ink brush, and it is
therefore better and stronger work.
The advances thus noted bring forcibly to
view the art educational progress of the
last hall century. The makers of pic
lures for the pressman's handling have
multiplied in increasing number, in excess,
almost of any other class Of ar; vorkers.
Art schools. schools of design ana schools
of engraving have increased in number
wonderfully. Where there was one in the
beginning Of the century in this country,
there are ten now. Where one youth had
the opportunity to orderly develop taste
for designing fifty years ago, the way to
the end is open to five hundred now. And
it is notable that the supply does not ex-
coed the demand. The really fine designer
has al SORTS of ho;oas nf rIaoao 0f o,,o,,Ioxx
Inent, so great is the demand for him in
book, paper, wall and other illumination.
while the good workers i'll fine magazine
and paper illustration fall far below the
demand.
OF course this indicates enlarged and
higher tastes among the people. There
are very few readers nowadays who do
not feel competent to judge whether
periodical or book is well or poorly illus.
trated, and the bad picture, the coarse en-
craving, the dauby gravure, tie lifeless
artotype, offend to the extent that publish
ers realize the fact that poor illustration
kills the sale of the work. 1t is very rare
that the merit of the text in these days
will save a work from the financial slough
if the pages are poorly illustrated. From
all which we conclnde that the book and
magazine illustration of the day; the
cover, page and paper designing the de-
signs for the wall and floor and ceiling
illustration of houses; the wood engraving
in the better class Of weekly illustrated
papers, all indicate in America long and
upward step in orr civilization, SO far as the
art taste of the people affects it-that it is
an important factor is undeniabe.