The Washington times., 1901-12-22
Progress Made by the World in
Illustrations.
PASSING OF OLD WOOD CUTS.
steel aud Copper Plate Eng-RvinGs
of High Artistic Character sup
plant the Primitive Methods En-
pioycd in Years Gone BY.

| lill EtAri9 VI ia Ahtihes NNiN
decorated with them. The wood cuts oi
these books were executed with consider
able skill, and the same plates were fire.
quenJly used afterward IN connection with
letter press in the earlier specimens Of
| Typography.
First Copper Plate EngrRyings.
Copper plate engraviDgs are not known
10 have appeared in connection with typoE-
raphy until the publication OF "Dante's
Inferno" by Bottiselli, in li41. The books
of the sixteenth century were abundantly
ornamented, both by pictures in wood and
metal. Albert Duser being one of the
most celebrated artists in book illustra-
tion in the early part OF the century. The
great master OF German art wac followed
by many others in Italy and the Neither
lands.
Toward the middle of the century the
publications Of Basle we're especially ia
nous for their illustration. many of them
due to the genius of Hans Holbein.
Wood Engraving Neglected.
During the seventeenth and eighteenth
centuries copper-plaIe engraving made
great progress, and wood engraving was
generally neglected throughout Europe. In
the early part OF the eighteenth century,
in France, the fantastic fashions of the
Court Of Louis XIV produced an elaborate
style OF engraving, which was carried TO
considerable perfection, both by German
and French artists. who sought popularity
by admirable dclineatiOns Of plumes and
laces. At the same period, in England,
the portraits were also especially excel
lent. as may be seen in many OF the
specimens in the Gardiner Hubbard col
lection in one of the halls OF the Library
of Congress. The other branches OF illus
tration in England at that period were
initiated from the Dutch school, until the
originality of HoEarth, about the middle
of the eighteenth century, reviyified the
national art. But the great era of popu-
lar Illustration for the whole of Europe
commenced with the revival of wood en-
craving by Bewick, In England. about
1915, this form OF art. being until the in
vention of later processes within the past
few years. the best adapted to accompany
letter press. and especially magazine and
journalistic literature.
In the Nineteenth Century.
The British book fever at the com
rnencement or the nineteenth century
gave a great impulse to all forms of
illustration. and under its influence. much
attention was directed to the expensive
forms of steel engraving in the various
styles OF line. stipple. mezzotint, and
aquatint; the latter of which was par
ticularly adapted to represent the land
scapes for which the British artists were
so famous. The many beautiful speci-
mems on public view in the Library of
Congress. engraved from the designs OF
J. NJ. W. Turner. represent the ne plus
ultra OF steel plate engraving Of this
period
An Epoch in Books.
a marked epoch in book illustration in
England commenced in 1922 with the
publication of the first OF the long Line
OF ANIMALS. which for some years proved
the most remunerative form OF publica-
tion ever attempted in that country. The
Annual or a yearly publication con-
tanning a series of short articles in prose
and verse, suited to the popular taste,
made its fin 5. appearance in Germany in
1871 in a work styled Yearbook OF So
ciai Amusement" followed shortly after
by a Year Book for ladies'" Similar
appeared annually. constant
Iy improving in appearance. until the
English publication in 1922 copied its
appearance. as well as its name. the
g Forget me Not" from a German proto-
type.
Attracted the Rest TRient.
These books for a series OF years at
tracted the best talent. both literary and
artistic. into their pages, and similar pub
began to appear in this country,
the first being the Atlantic Souvenir"
published by Carey d Lea, Philadelphia
1.-THE Gift. by E. L. Carey. Of the same
city. and "The Token" by 5. G. Good
rich. of Boston. In England, Heath's
Book Of Beauty" in 1888. opened another
style of publication. which became popu-
lar. and the general interest in illustra-
lion produced a great number of very |
ine editions e. the poets. adorned with |
exquisite ergrayings.
First Comic Paper.
The first comic paper appeared in |
where it was the outgrowth OF !
he great newspaper excitement attend |
ng the coronation OF Louis Philippe. This
1aper, called La Caricature." appeared |
n 1890. VITA oiack and colored illustra-
ions. and was published by Charles Phili-
pom. who the next year established the |
famous "Charlvari." This paper, both in !
.orm and spirit. was the model upon |
which Punch" the famous London comic
Journal. was started ten years afterward, |
adorned with odd illustrations from the
able pencils of Doyle and Lcech.
introduced Chcnp Illustrations,
England is to be credited with the
irst attempt at producing cheap illus
rated literature for the people in the
amous Penny Magazine" which was
in 1882. and followed the next
ear by a precisely similar style OF pub
ication l.; Germany. the "I'fennig Maga-
inc"
The English artists in the earlier Part
4 the present century enjoyed an ac-
re-emirence in wooden
Taving, and this excellence. probably
ombined with the freedom OF the press.
ed TO what was then considered re-
daring lenturc, the attempt 10
ombine illuciiation with the newspaper.
his was accomplished in the illustrated
.nndon Ne.s," in 1892, which was the
oreruuner g! the vast number Of Illus
rated wee.ly Tspers now published In
EUROPE, and ois country. Journals OF a
inilar cLai-ster. 'LIllustratIon" in |
arit. and the ''Ii,:strite Zeitung' en-
istratet Times') in Leipsic. were start