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Civil War Pictorial History Print: "The Wood Engraving"

Currency:USD Category:Art Start Price:50.00 USD Estimated At:800.00 - 1,000.00 USD
Civil War Pictorial History Print:  The Wood Engraving
A pictorial history print: "The Wood Engraving". During the Civil War, 2 Giants emerged from the mass of publications. Both Harper's Weekly and Frank Leslie's Newspaper were illustrated newspapers which devoted every other page to pictures. Because this was during the pre photographic and pre half tone era, virtually the only contemporaneos pictures of the war appeared in these eagerly awaited papers. Although their combined circulation reached less than 200,000, many more than that number of readers saw the war pictures as they were passed quickly from hand to hand until most were only tattered remnants. When the war ended, both publishers turned their attention to depicting the newly expanding United States and especially the recently settled west. Both papers sent artist correspondence often on horseback to all corners of our country. Once a newsworthy scene or view was encountered, the correspondent would draw it just as they had, while with the troops during the war. The artwork would then be rushed to the publishing house where the artwork was transferred to the surface of a highly polished boxwood plate. Next a staff of highly skilled workers known as wood engravers would carefully cut out the wood from between the artists lines. The resulting wooden block with the raised lines of the artist would then be inked and printed. These pictures known as wood engravings were often done by some of America's most famous artists such as Winslow Homer, Frederick Remington, A. B. Frost and Thomas Nast. Today they are valued both by art collectors and historians. While some are expensive and "Homer's" "Snap the whip" a double page Harper's retails at up to $4,000. Most are still obtainable in the $10-$100 range. Today collectors and collecting institutions alike often prefer the wood engravings to be water colored to enhance their appeal and decor value. Purchased in 1995 on Houston Street from the Pageant Book and Print Shop for $80. Framed in glass.