REPORT ON THE SECTION OF GRAPHIC ARTS 

 IN THE U. S. NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1890. 



By S. R. Koehlek, Curator. 



The rearrangement of the collections of the Section of Graphic Arts, 

 which was alluded to as impending in my last report, has been carried 

 out. The details of this arraugemeut are set forth on the leatlet printed 

 for the information of visitors to the Museum, and here reprinted. 



CLASSIFICATION OF EXHIBITS IN THE SECTION OF GRAPHIC ARTS. 



The collections exhibited in the Hall of Graphic Arts illustrate the various meth- 

 ods of producing pictures on flat surfaces, by hand, as well as by mechanical means. 

 They form two main groups, the one technical, the other historical. 



On the eastern side of the hall, opposite the windows, are arranged the specimens 

 illustrating the technical methods of the reproductive or multiplying arts; that is to 

 say, those arts that produce blocks, plates, etc., from which impressions can be ob- 

 tained in the press, such as wood-engraving, engraving on metal with the graver or 

 burin, etching, mezzotinting, lithography, the modern photomechanical processes, etc. 



On the western or window side are illustrated the various methods of drawing and 

 painting, the history of painting (by means of carbou prints, etc.), and the history of 

 engraving in relief (wood-engraving, etc.), intaglio (engraving with the burin, etc.), 

 and of drawing on stone, etc. (lithography). Ou the same side of the hall will also 

 be found illustrations of the history of color-priutiug, and supplementary exhibitions 

 illustrating aids to drawing used by lithographers and draftsmen for process-work, 

 methods of enlarging and reduciug, etc., and industrial applications of printing. 



The collections are arranged in alcoves in the following order: 



EASTERX SIDE OF THE HALL. 

 BEGINNING AT THE SOUTHERN END. 



Alcove 1. — Typical illustrations of the methods used in the production of printable 

 blocks and plates. — Relief-engraving (the wood-cut, wood-engraving, relief-engrav- 

 ing ou metal) : Tools, materials, aud appliances. Proving aud printing. Electro- 

 typing. Original drawings, etc., with the engravings made from them. 



Alcove 2 (southern side and wall). — Relief-engraving continued: Color-printing from 

 relief blocks. Japanese wood-cutting and wood-cut printing (.including the case 

 placed in the alcove). 



Alcove 2 (northern side). — Intaglio-engraving: Tools, materials, and appliances. 

 The various methods of intaglio-eugraving(burin or graver work, etching, dry-point- 

 ing, etc.). 



Alcove 3. — Intaglio-engra ving continued : The various methods continued (soft- 

 ground etching, aquatint, mezzotint, roulette work, stipple, mixed manner, color- 

 printing, intaglio on wood, etc.). Proving and printing. Electrotyping and steel- 



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