Illustrations first developed with the changes of newspapers and books in the early19th century. Its real golden age began in the United States in the 1950s and 1960s. At that time, the illustrations just separated from art works were obviously drawn, and most of the authors engaged in illustrations were professional painters. Later, influenced by the school of abstract expressionism, they turned from concrete to abstract. It was not until the 1970s that illustrations returned to the realistic style.
The earliest illustrations in China appeared in the form of printmaking. With the introduction of Buddhist culture, they used "disguised" illustrations in the scriptures to publicize their teachings. At present, China's earliest prints are recorded in historical materials, namely "Dalagni Curse" published by Tang Suzong. The title page painting of King Kong Prajna Sutra published by Tang Yizong Xian Tong in the 9th year (868) is the exact date.
In the Song, Jin and Yuan Dynasties, book illustrations developed greatly. The application scope has expanded to medical books, historical geography books, archaeological catalogue books, daily encyclopedia books and other books, and color overprint illustrations have appeared. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, it can be said that the ancient illustration art developed greatly, and there were book engraving industries all over the country. Different regions have formed different styles. The forms of illustrations are: frontispiece drawings, text illustrations, top or bottom drawings, paintings on inner pages or title pages, and cards.
Extended data
Illustration Status Quo Illustration is the most developed place: The United States is a country with a very developed illustration market, and appreciating illustrations has become a habit in society. On the one hand, a large number of independent illustration products are sold in the terminal market, such as illustration books, magazines, illustration greeting cards and so on. On the other hand, illustration, as a part of graphic design, illustration and commercial photography of visual communication system, is widely used in graphic advertisements, posters, covers and other design contents.
Illustrations in Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong and Taiwan: As we all know, Japanese commercial animation has a huge market and operation team. Animation is an important branch of illustration industry. Before CG technology, computer graphics and visual design and production using computer technology entered the field of illustration, hand-drawn animation has become a sunrise industry in Japan. Today's younger generation is more and more inclined to use computer digital technology.
In South Korea, with the game industry climbing to the second pillar industry of the national economy in recent years, illustrations, especially digital illustrations, have sprung up everywhere, and the game characters designed with digital illustrations have also won more market space with the popularity of Korean games in China. At the same time, Hong Kong and Taiwan illustrators are still looking for their own way of industry, although their works have obvious traces of learning from Japan.
Illustration education: Beijing Institute of Printing, Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology, Beijing Broadcasting Institute, Tsinghua University Academy of Fine Arts, Central Academy of Fine Arts and other institutions have set up illustrations or related majors in the past two years, but the teaching content often only includes publication illustrations rather than commercial illustrations in a complete sense.
But in foreign countries, the combination of illustration education and market is very close. Many well-known illustrators are visiting teachers in various universities, and they have brought the most fashionable and cutting-edge business consciousness to the school. Nowadays, commercial illustrations popular in foreign markets include publication illustrations, cartoon mascots, video and game art designs and advertising illustrations.
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