by abduzeedo
Dive into the rich illustration history of Charles Dickens's novels with a new digital gallery. Discover Victorian art and storytelling.
Stepping into the world of classic literature often brings to mind the words themselves. But for fans of Charles Dickens, the visual side is just as key. His novels weren't just read; they were seen. A new online resource, the Charles Dickens Illustrated Gallery, shines a light on this often-overlooked partnership between author and artist.
Think about how we consume stories today. Trailers, movie posters, cover art – visuals draw us in. Back in Victorian times, illustrations served a similar purpose for serial novels. As Michael John Goodman, the creator of the gallery, points out, print shops would display illustrations from the latest monthly part in their windows. This was the Victorian-era trailer, building anticipation and intrigue .
Dickens understood this power. He wrote his stories knowing they would be illustrated. He even briefed his illustrators on characters and scenes before writing them, ensuring the visuals were ready for publication . This makes the illustrations more than just pictures; they offer a window into Dickens's creative process and Victorian visual culture.
The Charles Dickens Illustrated Gallery brings over 2,100 of these historical illustrations together. It includes the original illustrations for his novels, Christmas books, and collections. You'll also find illustrations from notable editions like the Household Edition and the Library Edition, which features 500 illustrations by Harry Furniss alone .
Getting these illustrations online is a process. Goodman describes the tangible nature of scanning the old books – the "whirr and buzz" of the scanner creating a workshop feel. After scanning, the images need digital cleanup in Photoshop to remove signs of age like foxing or staining. Then comes the work of adjusting contrast and brightness so they look their best on modern screens .
The concept of a "gallery" is central to the project's design. It echoes those Victorian shop windows, allowing users to browse and contemplate each illustration at their own pace . It's a way to celebrate the artists who contributed so much to the success and reception of Dickens's work.
Looking through the gallery, you see the distinct styles of different illustrators. Images like the dramatic scene in or the atmospheric street view in capture the essence of Dickens's narratives. The detail in illustrations like or the character portrayal in highlight the skill involved. Even a seemingly simple image like from a Christmas book holds historical and artistic value. These illustrations were crucial to how readers first experienced these stories.
The gallery encourages users to download, share, and use the illustrations. It's a resource for research, remixing, or simply browsing for inspiration . The goal is to make these important visual artifacts accessible, addressing the frustration of finding poor-quality or missing illustrations in some modern editions .
Exploring this collection offers a unique perspective on classic literature and the art of illustration. It reminds us that storytelling is often a multi-sensory experience, where words and images work together to create something lasting.
Dive into the gallery and see how illustration shaped the world of Charles Dickens. www.charlesdickensillustration.org
