The art of illustration

UC-NRLF mmnf B TEi 3Qc^ ENRY Blackburn 4HIIUU L1RRA.RV University of California ( ;i Ki- OK Received Accession No ^(^'^y^V-^ iqa Class No / THE ART OF ILLUSTRATION XB' UHIVERSITT CALlFOS " Nir TKlMll.] IK." (Ora-,v; hi ,Wn ami ink, (SII; from hh [Size ofdr.-uving 5J by JOHN /•kliirc in llua^\ in CILIIERT, K.A.) Royal Academy, Plioto-zinc process.] i83j.) The Art of Illvistration, HENRY BLACKBURN, Editor of " Academy A'otes,^' N N ET Y- F V E I I Can/or Lecturer on I Il/iisf ration, LL U ST R AT O N S I SECOND EDITION W H 13, ALLEN & CO., WATERLOO PLACE, 1896 Limited, S.W {^c ^ c^^ TRINTED \V Y.MAN AMI 1!Y SON'S, LONDON, W.C LIMITED, 234 ( ) GELATINE PROCESS FOR THE RF.rRODUCTlON OF DRAWINGS IN LINE IN RELIEF, SUITARLE FOR This is more a I'RINTINi; delicate It is called reh'ef block The drawing laid mi.xture of gelatine light, i.e., the glass cast can In is a size (as before), The and bichromate of potash) exposed to the part of this light is absorbent, The in water swells up and part exposed to the the lines of the drawing, remains near the surface of Thus we have a sunk mould from which hands this process pale, uncertain lines There method of obtaining glass plate (previously coated with a be taken, leaving the skilful and sensitive I'RESS the " gelatine," or " Gillot " process upon a thin, sensitive film not when immersed and HE TYPE photographed to the required is and the negative AT a metal lines in relief as in the /inc process admits of more delicate gradations, can be reproduced with tolerable no process yet invented which gives better results fidelity from a pen-and-ink drawing for the type press Reproductions of by this process; generally too The and charcoal are not suited far much working up by hand on it, also possible and there is the block to suit These blocks when completed have a copper rapid printing surface jiencil, chalk, but they are blocks take longer to make, and are about double the price of the photo-zinc process The cost varies from gd to i/6 the square inch M Gillot, in Paris, of this process, may be said to be the inventor or perfector now used by many photo engravers in London, notably by Mr Alfred Dawson, of Hogarth Works, Chiswick ( 235 ) HALF-TONE PROCESS KOR THE REPRODICTION OF WASH DRAWINGS, PHOTOGRAPHS, ETC., IIY This As THE SCREENED PHOTO-ZINC RELIEF method from nature, or of grain, mezzotint or ; making the blocks of no there are lines in a a painting, in interstices so PROCESS more complioited is wash drawing, or it is in a photograph necessary to obtain some kind of white, on the zinc plate, between the drawing or photograph as produced and the camera, glass screens covered with in be to a re- lines or dots, are interposed, varying in strength according to the light and shade required ; thus turning the image of the wash drawing or photograph practically into " line,' with sufficient interstices of white for printing purposes The coarseness or fineness of grain on these blocks varies according to circumstances Thus, for ra[)id printing on cylinder machines, with inferior paper and ink, a wider grain and a deeper cut block is necessary The examples in this book may be said to show these process blocks at their best, with good average printing The results from wash drawings, as already pointed out, are uncertain, and generally The this gloomy and mechanical -looking reproductions of pencil, chalk, or charcoal drawings by process are generally unsatisfactory, even good conditions zinc line process, The when printed under blocks are shallow as com[)ared with the and are double the cost ( 236 ) INTAGLIO PROCESSES I'lIOTOCKAVURE, AUTOTVI'E, DALLASTYPK, ETC Photogravure — photographic negative First, a from the picture to be reproduced, and from bon print is this is taken direct an autotype car- taken and transferred on to glass or silvered copper, making carbon prints for sale and forms the mould, upon instead of on the paper used in This picture is which copper is in delicate relief, electrically deposited After being made " con- mould is placed in a galvanic bath, the deposit of copper upon it taking the impression perfectly Another method is to transfer the same mould upon pure, clean copper, and then operate with a powerful biting solution, which is resisted more or less according to the varying thickness Thus the parts to be left of carbon mould to be penetrated smoothest are thick of carbon, and the parts to be dark are bare, This, it will be perso that the mordant may act unresisted ceived, is the opposite way to the process above given, and is therefore worked from a " transparency," or photographic " positive," instead of a negative This is the Klick and Fox Talbot method, and is very commonly in use at i)resent The process of " photogravure " is well known, as employed by Messrs Boussod, Valadon, & Co (Goupil), of Paris, and is ductive," the carbon adapted for the reproduction of wash drawings, paintings, also drawings where the lines are pale and uncertain, pencil, chalk, etc ; the greys and gradations of pencil being wonderfully inter- preted In London many of now much used for the intaglio processes are used by the firms mentioned on page 240 They are the reproduction of photographic portraits in books, taking place of the copperplate engraving The co.st of these plates is, roughly, 5/- the square inch The makers of these plates generally supply paper, and print, charging by the 100 copies But engravings thus produced are comparatively little used in modern book illustration, as they cannot be printed simultaneously with the letter-press of a book suitable only for limited editions and ; " editions dc luxe." they are 237 ( DRAWING MATERIALS FOR REPRODUCTION I For Drawings Line in ink and Bristol board — For general use, liquid Indian or hard paper of similar surface ; " Clay board," the surface of which can easily be removed with a scraper, useful for is touch on clay board some purposes, but the pen become mechanical Pencil and Chalk, grained papers arc These papers arc made of various textures, with black or white lines and dots As a matter of fact, vertical, horizontal, and diagonal grained papers are little used in book and newspaper illustration in this country, and unless artistically treated For Drawings used (see the p results in 113 and following) very are suitable for landscape apt to is For Wash Drawings They unsatisfactory work and sketches of — Prepared boards for are most effect wash drawings, varying in surface and texture according to the scale of the drawing, artist, and the These must be Lamp black and opaque white combination of line and wash is the brush handling of the nature of the work to be reproduced decided by the teacher are commonly A used generally to be avoided The materials for drawing for reproduction are to be obtained from the following amongst other A J AcKERMAN, Barnarh & CORNELISSEN 191, artists' Regent So.N, 19, Berners Street, & SoN, 22, Great Lecubrtier, Barhe, & Co., Jas Newman, 24, Reeves & Sons, & YoUNC, 60, W Street, W.C Kegent Street, W Soho Square, W 99, Long Acre, 37, W.C W Rathbone I'lace, W Co., 64, 0.\ford Street, WiNSOR & Newton, I'liRCY Queen 113, Cheapside, E.C Chas Roberson & Co., Geo Kow.ney colourmen Street, \V 137, Clutter Street, W.C 238 ( ) BOOKS FOR STUDENTS The following will be found useful I.—" The Graphic & millan : Hamerton (London by P G Arts,'" 2.—"' Pen aiid Pencil Artists'' by Joseph & Macmillan '' English Pen Artists of To- Day" hy The is & known, but well it Harper (London G : reaches into branches of the art of beyond the scope of illustrations in it the second it most valuable to is and white," with the caution volume seems more technical teaching costly as to book that many of the were not drawn for reproduction, and would not reproduce well by the processes third Of book this said that Mr Joseph Pennell's students of " black The J Co.) value and comprehensive character of Mr Hamerton's illustration far may be Pennell (London: Co.) Rivington, Percival book Mac- : Co.) It is to we have been practical for considering elementary and be regretted that these books are so be out of the reach of most of us ; but they can be seen in the library of the South Kensington Museum Mr Hamerton's " Drawing and Engraving, a Brief Exposition of Technical Charles Principles Black, 1892), Drawings," by Col "Lessons in Art," are portable Henry and J by and Practice Hume Nisbet (Chatto useful books, Trueman Wood's & Newton) dates are 1SS6 (London Waterhouse (Kegan, Paul, " full : Adam and & & Modern of Co., 1890), Windus, 1891), of technical information Books," and Mr H R Robertson's (Winsor " "The Photographic Reproduction Methods of Sir Illustrating "Pen and Ink Drawing" are both excellent little manuals, but their 239 ( ) DECORATIVE PACES (KROM OLD MSS AND ROOKS TO UK SKKN IN THE liRITISH MUSF.l'M.) Reprintld from the Cantor Lrctiircs.) " Example of early Venetian writing, 15th century, written with a reed pen picturesqueness of the page used to-day bad) — what are letter in "A ; also the similarity to the type letters called beautiful example of Gothic writing and ornament, from is " Facsimile printed of a "History of England," produced of type is the British ; date page, from in Basle, in Polydorc 1556 Vergil's The style treatment of ornament (with figures introduced, but subservient to the general effect), not familiar, because tive page The it is "An printer of the past had a sense of beauty, and all but a few to-day.' illuminated printed page, 1521, with engraved borders, designs after is seldom that we see a modern decora- of the fitness of things apparently denied to Museum again familiar to us in books published in 1894; but the setting out of the page, the little in Here the decorative character and general balance of the delightful to modern eyes." 1480 much (good and old face,' and of ' modern books." a French illuminated manuscript page from a copybook of the Note the clearness and by Holbein ; figures again subordinate to the initial, and general effect." "Examples letters forming a of Italian, 14th century brilliant ; ornament, and harmonious combination." Illustrations of the above and other decorative pages (which this book) arc shown at the lectures could not be reproduced in on a large scale the many modern books on decoration and ornament, the handbooks by Mr Lewis Foreman Day (London Batsford) are Of : recommended to students of " the decorative page " " English Book PlaU's," l)y Egerton Castle (G Dell & Son.s) ; also ( 240 LIST OF PROCESS From a long list BLOCK MAKERS of photo-engravers, the following arc mentioned from personal knowledge of their work : Relief Blocks Andr6 & Sleigh, Bushey, Herts The Art Reproduction Company, Mr Dallas, 5, Clairville Grove, South Kensington Furnival Street, E.C A & C Dawson, Hogarth Works, Chiswick Dellagana & Co., Gayton Road, Ilampstead, N.W Direct Photographic Company, 38, Farringdon Street, Hare & Sons, Ltd., Bride Court, Fleet E.C Street Carl Hentschel, 182, Fleet Street, E.C Chas Geard (Agent for Krakow), MacLean's BIdgs., New St Sq., E.C Meisenbach Co., Ltd., Wolfington Road, West Norwood, S.E John Swain & Son, 58, Farringdon Street, E.C Swan Electric Light Co., 114, Charing Cross Ro.id, W.C Typographic Etching Co., 3, Ludgate Circus Buildings, E.C Walker & Boutall, Clifford's Inn, Fleet Street, Waterlow & Sons, Ltd., London Wall, E.C \'incent & Hahn, 34, Barbican, E.C E.C Int.\glio Several of the firms inentioned above are makers of " Intaglio plates ; some are also wood-engravers, photo-lithographers, etc " ; and agents for French, German, and Austrian photo-engravers Amongst leading firms who make " Intaglio " plates are Messrs and Messrs Boussod, Valadon, & Co (London and Paris) ; Angerer & Goschl, of Vienna The Autotype Company's admirable rejjroductions of photo- graphs and drawings should also be mentioned UNIVERSITY in this connection "BlacU anb Mbitc." NOTICE.— MR HENRY BLACKBURN'S STUDIO open five days a week for the Study and Practice of FOR THE PRESS at with Technical Assistants is DRAWING Students join any time Private Inst riirt Ion and bi/ Corresptnitfoice i;^ \'icTORiA Street, Westminster (miu -irmj' Cr= A''av}' Sion-s) OPINIONS OF THE PRESS On " ' The Art man who First tlie of Illustration ' Edition a brightly written account, by a is has had large experience of the ways in which books and newspapers are illustrated tion of typical illustrations by nowadays artists As a collec- of the day, Mr Blackburn's book is very attractive." The Times " Mr Blackburn explains the processes line, half-tone, and exemplifying each by the drawings of artists more so forth They are or less skilled in the modern work of illustration well chosen as a whole, to show the possibilities of process work in trained hands." Saturday Review " We thoroughly commend this book to all whom it may — — Athemetim " Mr Henry Blackburn, perhaps our greatest expert on the concern." the of subject book illustrator's very well afford to without instructive illustrations." " The has art, may be book best adapted to its is to show how drawing purpose all and-white work of the time." -Daily News " Mr Blackburn's interesting and practical manual first become reader Many are beautifully by choice reproductions from some of the best black- illustrated to instance, for the guidance of students illustrators in black-and-white, but for is designed, who intend the general contains a large quantity of readable and attractive it Tin Literary World matter." " must express our admiration for the contents of We Art of can Nearly a hundred splendid and of Mr Blackburn's instructions are technical, but in the artist Black and White author's purpose in this for the press most a written volume, which no young black-and-white interesting Illustration,' and its ' 'l"he fund of technical information." Bookseller "The book is full of interest, containing close hundred varied examples of illustrations of the day of unquestionable value." " Mr Blackburn processes ; his upon a A work Publishers' Circular knows from experience what is best for the volume is illustrated with nearly one hundred viii OPINIONS OF THE PRESS , drawings, most of them good examples of what being done is 'The Art of Illustration' is an entirely safe guide." Art/oumal "Mr Henry Blackburn has written an able book on 'The Art of Illustration,' which, hands of every in the not overpraise to say, should be is it artist who draws for reproduction." T/n- Goitlewcinan " The ' work of of Illustration '\rt art of its kin