Library Treasures: Illuminations of Nature
Illuminations of Nature
200 Years of Printmaking Techniques
New discoveries in the field of natural history during the 19th century led to the production of large, lavishly illustrated books that proved—despite their expense—to be popular and profitable.
Demand for these illustrated works, in turn, encouraged experimentation and innovation in printmaking techniques. Illuminations of Nature showcases many of these books and the techniques employed during this golden age of natural history publication.
“Nature printing” refers to several techniques that use the actual biological specimen to produce the printed image. Examples displayed here include a soot impression from a leaf, a large print that required the impression of a fern frond onto a lead plate, and several impressions of actual butterfly wings into sheets of paper.
Engravings and etchings are more familiar printing techniques. Illuminations of Nature features the work of Charles Alexandre Leseuer, who served as the illustrator and engraver for the Academy's earliest publications. Without question, the works of John James Audubon are the most famous illustrations of American natural history. A rare—one of only 120 surviving—complete sets of Audubon's Birds of America is on display in the Academy's Library, as is one of the original copper plates. A smaller, Royal Octovo Edition of Birds of America is on display in this exhibit.
Lithography is another familiar and widely used printmaking technique. One of the earliest lithographs published in America is on display, as are several early examples of hand-colored and color (chromolithography) lithographs. The exhibit also features a book on medicinal plants that was the first color plate book published in America. It was created using a rarely used and laborious method of stone etching.
Works produced by other printmaking techniques are also on display. One of these, Charles Darwin's The Expressions of Emotions in Man and Animals, was one of the first books to contain photographic images (heliotypes), Other works include a cyanotype (the precursor of blueprints), a wood engraving, and digital imaging.
Illuminations of Nature is an Independent Project of Philagrafika 2010, Philadelphia's international festival celebrating print in contemporary art.