Different types of graphic media and development of new
genres from 1850s to the present.
Wood engravings.
Illustration of Moss's photographic department, from Scientific American, 1877
John Macdonald, wood engraving,"Freedmen on the Canal Bank at Richmond."1865
This is a large wood engraving on an 1883 cover of Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper.(source)
In the 18th century, Thomas Bewick first used it to produce high-quality yet inexpensive images by incising an image into the end-grain of a hard piece of wood. Then publishers used it to illustrate books which were afforded by everyone.(source)
As seen in the images above, Wooden engraving is the style people in this period used.
This is a print made from a finely detailed design cut into the end grain of a block of wood.(source)
In this period, wooden engraving became effective in use of images in editorial and advertising communications for example in magazines, newspapers among others like the image above.
Modern Technique
Lou Barlow(1908-1992) Leon Gilmour (1907-1996)
Today as seen above, it is done by contemporary artists who still venture in it. From research(source), such images cost up $600 meaning that are expensive to have and because these artists are difficult to get.
Documentary
A series of photographs taken by Anglo-American photographer Eadweard Muybridge(1830-1904)
Open Hand Boxing, by Eadweard Muybridge. 1887
Documentary became important in a way that it brought impact to people of that age for example the first image. It showed the effects of war which later reduced on the rate of wars in America.
Then later came the moving images that recorded the motion which had a significant collective image upon graphic design.
Documentary began with Nanook of the North, that was made by Robert Flatherty in 1922.
The word 'Documentary' was invented by John Grierson to describe this film.
Modern technique
Today as seen above, there are cameras used to document people, things around us and vary in different types.
Chromolithography
Lithograph issued from Bufford's Print Publishing House, Boston, 1864
JOHN HENRY BUFFORD (American, 1810-1870) A Day on the River Color lithograph, circa 1850 Image
Steam threshing machinery poster(source),1870s
Chromolithography is a method for making multi-colour prints.(source)
Compared to all the images above, these images have got that a good range of colour. So a good range of colours was achieved the use of chromolithography. And a good look at the pictures shows that effect of realism especially the first one.
When you look at the last two images, you see that the typography used then was astonishing and neatly aligned with different designs.
Modern technique
Today CYMK(Cyan,Yellow,Magenta and key which is black) are used to print full colour on documents as seen in the images below.
Photography
In 1854 James Cutting, an American, Creation of an image on glass. (source)
Carte de Visite : 1859 - aka CDV
Present
Present
Photography The process or art of producing images of objects on sensitiSed surfaces by the chemical action
of light or of other forms of radiant energy, as x-rays, gamma rays, or cosmic rays.(source)
Following up the history of photography, photos were once printed on glass and the process was known as ambrotype. (an early type of photograph, made by placing a glass negative against a dark
background). for example the first image.
Then came the Carte de Visite (CDV) which looked clear and affordable to everyone. these were printed on cards which made them easy for people to look after. (second image)
As of present, we have got cameras that capture motion for example in the third image where the dog is captured in air with a man trying to take his scarf away from it.
In the fourth image, we have got a lady taking a selfie. This is a type of picture taken by oneself using a smartphone. It is the trend today to take selfies especially women on social media.
In conclusion, today most people do not need camera men to take pictures and print them out because they have it on their phones and its fast, easy and also can be printed out at anyone's wish.
Portraits
One had to be very important to have a portrait of himself/herself for example kings, queens among others.
But as time went on,people started painting by themselves.
Self portrait Vincent Van Gogh 1887
Portrait of Mrs. Collman(1865)
Looking at the above images, you can tell that the artists of that era painted them and tried to achieve reality from the look of their texture and variation in the tonal values and details applied.
Modern Technique
Today artists have achieved reality through different techniques so as to be unique and appear different from others.
1.Scribbling
So, many different styles are used for example the image above shows how the artist used scribbling method to come with Will Smith's portrait and achieved the tonal values properly.
2.Typography
The image above shows you how far typography has been used in the modern world to an extent of using it to create portraits and also communicating messages across.For example Obamas portrait shows global warming on his collar which means he has to do something about it.
3.Stylisation
Stylisation is the use of images by widening or elongating some parts of an object as seen in the above three images above. So today artists have done this to make images look funny to the viewers just to call for their attention because they are unique and are tired of seeing real pictures.
4.Illustration.
Some have illustrated these images using vectors technique to acquire that uniqueness and have that 3D look.
5.Animation
The images below show you that today animators have managed to make realistic animated portraits that one can confuse them for being real because of the details applied on them and texture.
Fashion.
This is a style that is the latest especially in dress codes, behaviours, hair styles among others.
Above is the timeline of the western fashioN.
So below I started with the 1870s fashion trend and I will be analysing the women's fashion trend.
Worth gown in synthetic violet 1870s (source)
At this era, dresses were made floral and a woman had to put on corsets to have a small waist and looked beautiful in them.The dresses were made long with reaching the toes.
The fashion trend changed in 1920s(source) and the image above shows women dressed in loose fitting clothes and had no corsets that I believe made them uncomfortable because they were tight. The dresses even became shorter that they were below the knees.
1970s fashion trend(source)
In the 1970s, started putting on mini skirts and dresses, bell bottom pants and sleeveless blouses that showed part of their body parts compared to the previous years as mentioned before. The blouses were also tight on top and the pants were loose as seen in the images above.
Modern technique.
Today most women put on clothes that are tight to show their body shape because it is the trend.
Today some fashion trends have that crazy look and feel. This simply shows that fashion designers are taking that extra step to create new fashion designs that will look astonishing to the viewers.
Observing the image above,the fashion used is a mixture of the 19th century and the today which implies that history repeats its self.
