Fifty Years of Illustration by Lawrence Zeegen and Caroline Roberts. Laurence King Publishing, 384 pages, $50.
Illustration has been used to communicate ideas since the earliest cave drawings. It reaches across language barriers and conveys both the simple and complex in a way that connects to us on many levels.
The past 50 years has seen dramatic changes in this art form as it moved from traditional techniques to multi-media and then into a digital age. The expanded opportunities through easily accessible computer programs has put a vast range of tools at the fingertips of all manner of artists.
Beginning with the '60s and the accelerated social and cultural changes of that era, the authors present an overview of each decade and then use the work of individual illustrators to show the best of the leading design trends. Much of the work has achieved iconic status with its connection to the various projects, such as Roger Dean's album covers, Quentin Blake's children's books, or Gerald Scarfe's political cartoons.
The short biography on each artist offers some insight into their background and the variety of work they've done. From small handbills to the sides of buildings the work included shows how limitless illustration as an art form continues to be.
