Wordless Wood Engraving Novel
Lynd Ward’s Prelude to a Million Years graphically portrays its protagonist, a young sculptor, as a figure apart from all others. In one revealing image, the artist chooses to be alone, turning away from the only other figure on an empty city street. In another scene, a soldier detains the protagonist for not removing his hat in the presence of the American flag, an instance of an authority figure stigmatizing or setting the artist apart from others. Prelude is the third of Ward’s six wordless wood engraving novels, groundbreaking works published between 1929 and 1937. Collectively, they represent a crucial strand in the evolution of the graphic novel. Ward’s Prelude also contains some of his best wood engravings, characterized by remarkably fine, delicate lines, mastery of detail, and overall evenness in execution.
Lynd Ward’s <em>Prelude to a Million Years</em> graphically portrays its protagonist, a young sculptor, as a figure apart from all others. In one revealing image, the artist chooses to be alone, turning away from the only other figure on an empty city street. In another scene, a soldier detains the protagonist for not removing his hat in the presence of the American flag, an instance of an authority figure stigmatizing or setting the artist apart from others. <em>Prelude</em> is the third of Ward’s six wordless wood engraving novels, groundbreaking works published between 1929 and 1937. Collectively, they represent a crucial strand in the evolution of the graphic novel. Ward’s <em>Prelude</em> also contains some of his best wood engravings, characterized by remarkably fine, delicate lines, mastery of detail, and overall evenness in execution.