We discussed several themes: freedom of the press, William Blake, the evolution of types (from Bembo to the 19th century), designing the romantic image, Romanticisms and revivals (Renaissance, Gothic, etc.), and "why." The impact of the steam press, Punch and Caricature, popular and specialized knowledge, children's books, erotica...
Pick one and develop it. Avoid repeating the same, please.
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The growing popularity of children’s books in the 19th century marked an important moment in the history of graphic design. Books such as “Crane’s Railroad Alphabet” (1865) made knowledge accessible to younger readers in an engaging way. Through the use of playfully-illustrated images and simple text, children could learn on their own, without the sole reliance of teachers and parents. This design allowed children to develop literacy skills at their own pace. With this in mind, it’s somewhat unsettling to think of other books with different intentions during this time period such as the German tales of “Struwwelpeter.” These texts often used scary images in order to frighten children into maintaining good behavior. It’s interesting to compare the contrasting intentions of these two books, and yet, they were both incredibly popular during the 18th century. I think this goes to show the power of graphic design throughout time, and its influence over varying audiences.
The Steam Press, created during the Industrial Revolution in the early 19th century, completely revolutionized the printing, communication, and distribution of communication. In a time when printing was done manually or with inefficient and slower machines, the steam press introduced a steam-powered press that allowed for mass production of newspapers, books, and pamphlets. At a lower cost and with much higher output, thousands of copies can be printed as opposed to hundreds per hour. Greater than just financial benefits, the printing press allowed for a speedier form of media distribution, allowing news to spread further and faster. Expanding literacy and access to information was the start of a dramatic shift in social and political culture. Combined with the development of transportation, with new technologies such as steamships and railroads, a global market for printed materials. This in turn lead to a more interconnected world, and without the steam press our society would not have progressed to the level it is at today.
One of the things from last class that caught my attention was political cartoons and how it relates to the freedom of the press. This was pretty interesting to me and one of the things it reminded me of was my AP US History class. One of the things that our teacher used to give us context from those time periods was political cartoons because it gave a sense of what society and people in those time periods thought about the policy. Last class we had a look at political cartoons from the late 19th century and it again reminded me about how the freedom of the press allows for people to express their viewpoints in creative ways which explains why political cartoons started popping up. This has an interesting effect on society because through this medium it allows people to critique the people in power which is something that was not as common in previous centuries.
Design is deliberate in nature and always purposeful. Graphic design and architecture are examples of how an equal amount of functionality and visual appeal are design requirements. In Stefan Claudius’ 19th-century example of book design, he utilizes legibility, sizes, and the aesthetics of multiple types to form a cohesive product that reads well and presents itself beautifully. Its complexity isn’t immediately recognizable, but through further analysis, it’s clear that these design choices were made with the intent to come full circle. This idea can be easily applied to architecture as a practice because architecture is an art that relies heavily on function. The design of the chair is one example of this concept. It incorporates style, structure, load consideration, and adaptability to the human body into a piece of furniture meant to be frequently used and relied upon. Beauty and functionality coexist with no bounds when it comes to chairs. For architects, every aspect (like material, shape, proportion…) is considered when designing a project because they know it serves more purpose than to just look good. I think its neat that these two disciplines (graphic design and architecture) overlap in this way. They both strive to serve a functional purpose while also being beautiful, and maybe the degree of functionality even contributes to the degree of beauty. Stefan Claudius’ book design places an emphasis on the way we should output design today, this being with intention and parts and pieces all contributing to the success of the end result.
The explosion of children's books during the 19th century is quite interesting. I would’ve thought that the explosion of children's books would’ve been a lot earlier, since children's books are such a key part in today's society, although it makes a lot of sense that it wasn’t. From what I have learned through this class, and multiple history courses, reading in the past has been a privilege and mostly accessible to the educated, who were most likely wealthy. With the rise of industrialization and the middle class, education was expanded so more people could read, including children. Therefore children's books became a thing as it became evident that books for adults were not as interesting or understandable for those of a young age. Although surprising at first, the harshness of the first children's books makes sense as life in the past seemed to be more about survival and innovation, rather than pure enjoyment. In today's world we have a need for more forms of entertainment since we are less focused on survival, therefore children’s books are more light and fun. However, the old German children's tales, such as struwwelpeter, are not necessarily harsh because of this “need for survival”, but I think more so because of the German culture. My Grandparents are German and as my Dad was growing up they would still read him these traditional German tales. One that I remember is a German Tale in which a man would come and cut off a boy's thumb in the middle of the night if he sucked his thumb like one would a pacifier. There were many additional stories emphasizing life lessons like not playing with fire or talking back to adults. My grandparents would tell these tales as they believed it would stop bad habitats from building up and shape their children into hardworking and solid adults. Overall, it's interesting to compare the children's books of the past with today's children's books.
In our last class, Popular Mechanics came up in the lecture. Founded in 1902, the magazine’s main objective was to keep readers informed on technological advances, science, industrial innovation, and the growing accessibility of knowledge. With the rise of the steam press, it became a bridge between the rapidly changing world of industry and a working class audience eager to develop new skills. Popular Mechanics reflected an era of rapid change, marked by mechanization, urban growth, and the belief in self-improvement through applied knowledge. Its detailed illustrations, often resembling blueprints, helped everyday readers understand complex systems and machines. By making technical knowledge accessible, it shifted education away from the elite, empowering more people to learn.
Interestingly, according to Wikipedia, the infamous 1962 Alcatraz escapees used information from the magazine to construct life vests and a raft out of rubber raincoats and contact cement. This highlights how widely available knowledge could inspire both innovation and creative problem solving. Popular Mechanics didn’t just teach technology; it helped people shape the world around them.
The invention of the steam press in the early 19th century revolutionized print culture by opening up knowledge dissemination and literature to more people. Printing before its invention was expensive and time-consuming through hand-operated presses. The steam press greatly reduced production time, making prices lower and books, newspapers, and pamphlets available to an increasing literate public.
This innovation spurred the growth of mass media, and dailies started appearing on the market, and serial fiction became a normal mode of literary consumption. Print availability also broadened the range of material to hand, from political pamphlets demanding reform to sensationalist fiction that attracted readers. The dissemination of print changed people's attitudes, creating room for new types of political and social criticism, such as the satirical writings of *Punch*, a newspaper that ridiculed British society. In addition to this, the steam press provided easier dissemination of popular and expertise knowledge. The writings of scientists, children's literature, as well as pornography, were disseminated to even more individuals, reflective of diverse reader interests. Although mechanization of printing helped improve literacy and accessibility of public debate, it also created concerns over so-called print decline and sensationalism journalism issues that remain relevant today.
Caricatures are fun. They exaggerate and warp physical features in such a comical and extreme way, you would initially assume it to be rude or patronizing if you’ve only heard the term without seeing one, but caricatures are really fun. They exaggerate the features of each person uniquely in such a way where there remains some degree of resemblance, but instead of being twisted and distorted, it simply turns endearing and fun. They are often accompanied by a light hearted and humorous tone, and I think to some degree humans enjoy the freedom and escape from reality. By exaggerating all the features of people into playful drawings, it becomes a lot easier to cope with your own imperfections; each blemish, flaw, or unwanted mark suddenly becomes just another meaningless exaggeration on a canvas or piece of paper. The abstractness of a caricature allows for deniability over any feature you see and dislike, or any representation that doesn't necessarily match how you want to be seen. A realistic photos that highlights each imperfection on a person is often disliked, but with caricature, everything is so exaggerated that there can be no meaningful imperfections, just a fun drawing that a person can interpret however they want.
I was particularly interested in Punch and the development of political cartoons because of its influence on political humor which can be seen today. These cartoons are symbolic of the social climate of the time, and you can imagine the level of unrest that it must have taken to be the first to speak against significant figures in such a way. In considering the influence that these cartoons have especially with the growth of the internet, they emphasize the importance of free speech as protected by the First Amendment. Without such protections, these cartoons and similar media would likely be removed before being seen by the masses, limiting people’s ease of coming together in the face of unrest. The First Amendment enables a true diversity political discourse and thus cultural development, a privilege that many countries don’t have.
I was super interested in the development of the “romantic image,” or more specifically what art from that period can tell us about people’s mentality. In pieces like “Liberty Leading the People” (1830) and “Raft of the Medusa” (1816), there is a stunning contrast between the bleak and the bright, the hopeless and the hopeful. Despite suffering, the human spirit clings to hope, and that chance of survival and victory is more powerful than despair. “Ophelia” (1851) also is one of my favorite pieces of art of all time. Here, death is romantic; death is perhaps not the end. She is immortalized in a work of art, and as thus she lives on. The art shows a clear fear of the unknown, but also a tentative hope that whatever lies beyond the veil (or beyond the cliff in the case of “Wanderer above the Sea of Fog” (1818)) will be beautiful and worth the suffering.
One thing I found interesting from our last lecture was the rise of caricatures, and I did further research, through the Pantheon Charivarique website link that was posted. Le Charivari and Britain's Punch magazine played pivotal roles in reflecting and shaping societal norms through caricature. These visual commentaries offered incisive critiques of political figures, cultural trends, and social behaviors, influencing public opinion and discourse. Benjamin Roubaud's "Le Panthéon Charivarique," published between 1838 and 1842 in Le Charivari, exemplifies this impact. This series featured "portraits-charges" which were exaggerated yet recognizable depictions of prominent literary and artistic figures of the time. Roubaud's technique of portraying individuals with enlarged heads on smaller bodies accentuated specific traits, making subtle commentaries on their personalities and societal roles. These illustrations were accompanied by rhymed verses, also crafted by Roubaud, adding a poetic layer to the satire. Notable figures such as Honoré de Balzac, Victor Hugo, and Théophile Gautier were among those depicted, highlighting the interconnectedness of art, literature, and societal critique during that era. Similarly, Punch magazine, established in 1841, became renowned for its satirical cartoons that mirrored Victorian society's complexities. The magazine addressed a wide array of topics, from politics to social customs, often using humor and exaggeration to provoke thought and discussion. For instance, Punch frequently satirized changing social trends, especially the shifting roles and behaviors of women, by featuring cartoons that juxtaposed progressive behaviors with traditional expectations, thereby sparking conversations about gender norms and societal expectations.
These caricatures served as more than mere entertainment; they were instrumental in promoting public discourse. By highlighting societal absurdities and injustices, publications like Le Charivari and Punch encouraged readers to question prevailing norms and consider alternative perspectives. The visual nature of caricature made these critiques accessible, transcending literacy barriers and engaging a broader audience in societal debates. The art of caricature in these publications not only reflected societal values but also actively participated in molding them. Through humor and satire, they provided platforms for social commentary, challenging the status quo and contributing to the dynamic evolution of cultural and social norms in the 19th century.
The Victorian era marked a transition in how society viewed childhood, moving away from considering children as "little adults" and toward recognizing their need for education and enjoyment. This resulted in the creation of toy books, which are colorful picture books targeted for young children. Walter Crane, best known for his gorgeously drawn children's books like Crane's Railroad Alphabet (1865), was a key figure in this movement. The artwork exemplifies Crane's distinct style, which was highly influenced by Arts & Crafts design and Japanese woodblock prints. His work incorporates flat colors, strong edges, and decorative patterns, resulting in visually appealing settings that are both playful and refined. Unlike older children's books, which were frequently only text with small engravings.
^caroline Clarke
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