journey to the Center of the Earth 1864

Edouard Riou created this illustration for Jules Verne's *Journey to the Center of the Earth* using the technique of wood engraving. This was a popular method for mass-producing images in the 19th century. Wood engraving is a relief printing process, meaning the artist carves away the areas that will not be inked, leaving the image to stand out. Look closely, and you can see the network of fine lines that create the image’s texture and shading, made by tools that were dragged across the block. The resulting image, with its stark contrast and graphic quality, lent itself perfectly to book illustration, and it was quicker than metal engraving. In this image, Riou depicts a subterranean world teeming with prehistoric life. Verne's novel, published in 1864, coincided with a surge of interest in scientific discovery and exploration. Wood engraving allowed these images to reach a wide audience, fueling the public's imagination and shaping their understanding of the natural world. The process of wood engraving makes the wonders of the world accessible to all.