The Magical World of Illustration Collection

Throughout history, people have used illustration to tell their stories. The earliest recorded illustrations appeared in the cave paintings as early as 15,000 BC. In the Middle Ages illustrations started to appear in manuscripts and in the 14th century woodcuts and engraved prints brought images, ideas, and entertainment to a wider audience. With the start of the Industrial Revolution in the mid-1700s, printing technology improved rapidly and illustration became more common in daily life, appearing in books and newspapers. In the 1800's publishers realised that illustrations helped to sell, books, magazines and increase advertising revenue so the illustration profession grew as more art was commissioned.