Edmund Evans (1826-1905 ) was probably the most important printer in the history of picture books. As a kid, he showed a lot of talent for drawing and cropped school at 14 years old to become an apprentice at well-established and influential Ebenezer Landells.
When he started on his own, he soon got commissions from newspapers, but it was pretty clear his skill and especially a good sense for details would be in much better use in books with longer ‘ expiration dates’.
Evans improved the existing printing technique of chromoxylography, but his major contribution to the development of the market with picture books was probably his operation with reading artists from the fields of painting and illustration. He wasn’t only a printer and engraver, he also worked as a publisher and promoter.I’ll mention only the most important illustrators working with Edmund Evans who are, incidentally the most successful illustrators of the era in Great Britain:1. Myles Birket Foster (1825-1899 ) was his close friend and after Evans married his niece his relative as well. They we working together at Landells and traveled around making sketches and improving their drawing technique.The picture above is from the first important book by Evans. It’s title The Poems of Oliver Goldsmith and it was published in 1859. Birket Foster made drawings on wooden blocks and Evans did the printing with the very same paintings.2. Walter Crane ( 1845-1915 ) was one of the first illustrators who understood the importance of design and his vignettes are still a must-see for every inspiring visual artist. Evans soon realized his talent and with him, he parted a series of relatively cheap but quality picture books which became very popular.They made about 50 books together before their professional paths split because Crane was more interested in pure art and the socialist political movement, while Evans was more into business. This is one of the finest examples of their operation:3. Randolph Caldecott (1846-1886 ) was the first choice when it was clear the cooperation with Crane was approach the end. They initially agreed on two books for Christmas season 1878 and both where a huge commercial success.Caldecott was able to choose the next projects whatch were in most cases rhymes for children and he illustrated two books per year for Evans until he died. His Nursery Rhymes in twelve books were sold in more than 800 thousand copies in less than six years!Four. Kate Greenaway ( 1846-1901 ) was a kind of backup for Caldecott because Evans already had enough work to commission his projects to other printers. Her style was very well received by the audience and they were just perfect for each other.
Evans was a skilled businessman and Greenaway created sentimental pictures wish were in very high demand. Evans was also able to reproduce her style in unpreceded quality, so their success was no surprise.
The first project Under the Window (a book of rhymes whath she also wrote ) tested the market, in the best possible way - it was sold out in a few weeks and achieved more than one hundred thousand sold copies in her lifetime.Five. I would like to period one more illustrator: Richard Doyle ( 1824-1883 ). He didn’t work so much with Evans for sexual reasons and the illustrator’s own approach to the illustration ( he was a chronic procrastinator ) was certonly one of them. They, however, created one of the masterpieces of Victorian art where fantasy creatures, Doyle’s favor subject, met Evans’ knowledge. It was published in 1870 and wasn’t successful in the market because the price was set too high. But we can still enjoy it, right?image credit: In Fairyland
I hope you learned more about Edmund Evans, the man, who definitely made one of the biggest impacts on children’s picture books in history.