The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-07-31
REVIVAL or WOOD ENGRAVING
The Proof Pressmnn's Work and tho Plans
of the American Wood Engrnvers.

The Proof Pressmnn's Work and tho Plans
ofthe American Wood Engrnvers.
Those skilled and well-paid mechanics. the
wood-cut proof pressmen. are likely II tho
concerted movement OF the wood engravers
shall succeed. to be buster than they have been
| at any time sinces process engraving began to
drive wood outs from the illustrated maya
zines. There are few proof pressmen skilled
in the delicate craft Of proving the work pro-
duced by the wood engravers Of highest ar
tistic quality Only two or three offices in New
York undertake such presswork. though it is
to this city that nearly all the skilled American
wood engravers send their blocks. Perhaps
the best evidence Of the extent to which proc
css engraving has superseded the work OF
the wood engraver Is contain ed in the fact that
proof pressman who does most Of tho press
work for a high-class illustrated magazine
finds that it occupies only a small part OF his
time.
Whom q wood enGraver Is asked to enRrave
an illustration for a magazine he presents
himself before the art editor. examines the
original from which the engraving is to be
made. and makes an estimate of what the
work will cost II the price suits the art editor
the engraver carries homo the original
picture and a composite block OF lockwood,
bearing upon its polished surface a reversed
photograph Of the artists work. When the
engraver has spent some day or weeks in pro-
ducng his engraving he takes the engraved
block to the proof printer to be proved
or proven" as tho old-fashioned inflex.
ion still Is In tho press room. This
proof tho engraver shows to the art editor and
II 1t pleases the latter the engraver yields I'D
the original picture with the engraved block,
ana receives his money for the work. Az
elsctrOtype copy OF the engraving Is made
and from this copy, the illustration is printed
an, illustration is 50 popular that the pub.
Usher has few proofs on Japan paper struck
from the original block by the proof pressman.
and these are sold to those who like the pic
The proof rressmen still employ a slightly
and to enter proof pressnans loft is to be
carried back in imasnation tnll century 50
inss The work Of the proof FRESHMAN is done
WITH the X t. direct and to
been enacted from the engraved lines under
The first proof drawn Is Seldom Satisfactory ks
and it usually re, requires half dozen impress
snsh Ind to s9Sb
to the art editor AS one proof after another is
H Small T aha his tools h w
!udiciops application Of paper layers over and
to bring out the proper lights and shades. Tie
most Intelligent proof pressmen manage this
with great success. and they are somewhat
disposed to resent n too insistent and MASTER
full supervision from the engrayer. 1t some-
times happens that the artist OF the original |
picture asks the privilege Of seeing the proof |
and he may make no end OF trouble for tho en- |
graver by insisting upon different interpre-
tation OF the work. II all artists exercised |
such u privilege the race OF engravers would |
BIO driven mad. and the proof pressmen would
cheeriully submit to BIO squeezed to death In |
their own mach ines.
The scheme OF the engravers that may yet |
enrich the proof pressmen looks to a thor |
ough rehaDil alton OF tho wood engravers'
work as an independent form OF art. 1t was |
believed for time that the Groer Club |
would bring out a portfolio OF Japan proofs |
from engraved blocks OF original compositions |
by fine best wood enEravers. But the club de- |
cided such work to be outside its province. |
and 1t is probable that the Soc ety OF American
Wood Engrnvers will issue the portfolio A
somewhat similar work issued several years |
ago by a rich publishing house OF this |
city WAS highly successful. and volumes |
Of TINT Issue gnally sold for 300 |
have since fetched $3.50: Some of the blocks |
for the proposed portfolio have already been |
engraved. and the work promises to be thor
wood engraving and at the same time an In |
The original pictures will 10 in |
oil. in water colors and in Pastel, and the sub
lects will repre- sent both European and Amer |
icnn scenes. The proof prnssmen hope that |
following this portfolio will come IA demand |
for proofs Of the original work by American |
wood engrayers. and that the presses Will be |
busted with the best kind OF work.