The Illustrated London News which was published on the 14th
May 1842 was the worlds first illustrated newspaper and featured two pages of
pictures depicting the Magnificent Fancy Dress Ball hosted by Queen Victoria.
This innovation in sharing and depicting the news led to The Illustrated London
News selling 300,000 copies every week; far outselling other papers of the
time.
Wood engraving as a medium for artwork began too
loose popularity in the 17th century and began to be used more widely for
newspaper prints and creating text. Typically made of hardwoods such as boxwood
or lemonwood, the wood used is very expensive although modern alternatives are
typically PVC or resin. Although wood
engraving is traditionally a black and white technique, primary colours used
over a number of blocks can be used to create more colourful creations.
The American Golden Age of Illustration
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