Art & Photography

The story of the illustrated book from the earliest printed books to the present day, told through the collections of the V&A’s National Art Library.

Throughout history, images have been used to reflect the meaning of words and to enhance our understanding of texts. With the invention of mechanized printing in Germany in the 15th century, illustrated books were no longer the preserve of the elite and became a source of knowledge, instruction and pleasure for a wider audience.

Traditional accounts of the illustrated book survey its history in terms of technological advances, from illumination to hand-drawn illustrations and photography. This study offers a new approach, grouping books by subject – from natural history and travel to art, architecture and fashion. Gathered here are some of the most influential and compelling examples of the illustrated book, all chosen from the collections of the National Art Library at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London.

Each chapter starts with a general introduction to the subject, followed by key examples accompanied by narrative captions. The commentaries range beyond the illustrations to consider the whole book, the design, typeface, binding, inks and papers. Many of the books are not on display to the public and have been specially photographed for this volume. Most examples have been chosen for their significance, being innovative and beautiful. But humble books, often overlooked in histories, have also been selected, when particularly effective in their field, or simply memorable.

From beautiful printed Psalters and Books of Hours, to striking natural history books such as Audubon’s Birds of America , La Fontaine’s Fables illustrated by Marc Chagall, Serlio’s treatise on architecture and Owen Jones’s Grammar of Ornament , this book gives a fascinating overview of some of the finest illustrated books ever created. In the face of recent pronouncements about the death of the printed book, this volume demonstrates the enduring appeal of the illustrated book.

A history of women designers and consumers from 1900 to the present day.

The work of women designers has not traditionally been the focus of mainstream histories of design. By revealing the untold story of female design pioneers, this comprehensive introduction celebrates their crucial role in the history of modern processes of making.

Arranged chronologically, this guide considers the structural barriers to professional success and how women overcame these hurdles, charting the success of designers including Anni Albers at the Bauhaus, the architect Eileen Grey, interior decorator Elsie de Wolfe and fashion icon Mary Quant, focusing on the key subjects of architecture, craft, fashion, furniture, graphics, interior, product and textile design. The link between early twentieth-century revolutionary design and lifestyle is explored, as well the ideas of shopping and consumerism as a liberating activity. The important contribution of designers during and after the Second World War is also discussed, along with design activism, design collectives and the current success of women working transnationally in architecture and design.