Illustration

An illustration is a decoration, interpretation, or visual explanation of a text, concept, or process,^[1] designed for integration in print and digitally published media, such as posters, flyers, magazines, books, teaching materials, animations, video games and films. An illustration is typically created by an illustrator. Digital illustrations are often used to make websites and apps more user-friendly, such as the use of emojis to accompany digital type.^[2] Illustration also means providing an example; either in writing or in picture form.

The origin of the word "illustration" is late Middle English (in the sense ‘illumination; spiritual or intellectual enlightenment’): via Old French from Latin illustratio(n-), from the verb illustrare.^[3]

Contemporary illustration uses a wide range of styles and techniques, including drawing, painting, printmaking, collage, montage, digital design, multimedia, 3D modelling. Depending on the purpose, illustration may be expressive, stylised, realistic, or highly technical.

Technical and scientific illustration communicates information of a technical or scientific nature. This may include exploded views, cutaways, fly-throughs, reconstructions, instructional images, component designs, diagrams. The aim is "to generate expressive images that effectively convey certain information via the visual channel to the human observer".^[5]

Technical and scientific illustration is generally designed to describe or explain subjects to a nontechnical audience, so it must provide "an overall impression of what an object is or does, to enhance the viewer's interest and understanding."^[6]

In contemporary illustration practice, 2D and 3D software is often used to create accurate representations that can be updated easily, and reused in a variety of contexts.

Illustration by Jessie Willcox Smith (1863–1935)

"Illustration beats explanation" Western Engraving & Colortype Co. (1916)

The White Rabbit from Alice in Wonderland, illustrated by John Tenniel (1820–1914)

Exploded-view diagram of a gear pump (c 2007)

Cutaway drawing of the Nash 600, an American automobile of the 1940s (1942)

Illustrations of various insects, drawn in 1833 by J. Tastu

Oberon, Titania and Puck with Fairies Dancing by William Blake (1786)

An engraving by Georgius Agricola or Georg Bauer (1494–1555), illustrating the mining practice of fire-setting