Exhibition traces visual history from 19th century illustration to modern graphic design, running August 3 to September 5

According to SayArt on August 3, POSCO Art Museum Gwangyang will present the traveling exhibition "A World on a Page: A 100-Year Journey Through Picture Books" from August 3 to September 5. The exhibition examines the historical development of picture books while presenting them as a form of visual art.

Organized through a collaboration between POSCO Art Museum and the POSCO 1% Foundation, the exhibition is designed for visitors of all ages. It introduces picture books not only as children's publications but also as artistic works that combine illustration, text, printing, and bookmaking.

The exhibition begins with the emergence of modern illustrated books in the late nineteenth century, when advances in printing technology expanded visual publishing. Visitors can view the 1879 first edition of Kate Greenaway's Under the Window, along with works by Walter Crane and Randolph Caldecott, three figures associated with the development of British picture books. The presentation follows the transition from moral instruction toward visual storytelling and artistic expression.

The exhibition then explores early twentieth century design movements, including Bauhaus, Constructivism, and Mid-century Modern. A first edition of Vladimir Lebedev's Circus (1925) is included as an example of how Russian avant-garde design principles were introduced into children's publishing.

Works created after the Second World War examine the influence of graphic designers on picture books. Featured titles include Bruno Munari's Il venditore di animali and Storie di Tre Uccellini, both published in 1945, as well as Paul Rand's Sparkle and Spin (1957). Together, these books illustrate the growing use of abstraction, collage, and graphic design in the medium.

A central feature of the exhibition is its focus on first editions. Visitors can observe original paper textures, printing methods, formats, and bindings that preserve the physical characteristics of each publication at the time of its release.

The exhibition concludes with a reading space where visitors can browse picture books directly. According to the organizers, the exhibition is intended to encourage audiences to explore the relationship between visual art, publishing, and book design through original editions.

The exhibition is expected to present picture books as an artistic medium while tracing approximately a century of developments in illustration, graphic design, and visual culture.

SayArt.net
Jason Yim yimjongho1969@gmail.com