THE ART OF THE ILLUSTRATED BOOKS

The story of the illustrated book from the earliest printed books to the present day, told through the collections of the V<(>y<)>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.