I-20: Book Illustration Processes to 1900
23-27 July 2007 in Charlottesville
1) How useful were the pre-course readings?
1: Very useful; you need to do them. 2: Pre-course readings very useful. 3: Just fine. 4: Gascoigne [Bamber Gascoigne’s How to Identify Prints] was very useful. I started out with a library copy, and ended up purchasing my own because it became clear I would want to own this book for a very, very long time. 5: Very, though hard to absorb without physical examples of processes to consult. 6: Difficult to read, but useful. 7: Course reading was helpful, but halftones of illustrations [in Gascoigne] where you are trying to learn the processes used in making illustrations is problematic by nature. 8: Essential. Seeing the examples is vital, of course, but going through Gascoigne ahead of time is very important. 9-10: Very useful.
2) Were the course syllabus and other materials distributed in class appropriate and useful (or will they be so in the future, after you return home)?
1: Yes, very. 2: Syllabus and other materials both appropriate and useful. 3: Yes – for this course especially useful – the syllabus is one of the best reasons for coming to RBS. 4: Yes, the exit reading list will come in handy once this week’s information has sunk in a bit more. 5: Yes. Very useful – excellent. 6: Yes, good for review. The bibliography will be very useful. 7: Useful. 8: Yes. 9: Very useful. 10: Yes, absolutely.
3) What aspects of the course content were of the greatest interest or relevance for your purposes? Was the intellectual level of the course appropriate?
1: All of the course content was relevant for me – in particular, the constant practice of looking at prints; and tips, for context, date, &c. – very helpful to be aware of – will need to build on this when I leave. All the examples of prints passed around were fabulous. I am in awe of the RBS collection, and of the great care and work it has taken to build it. It is a rare and wonderful experience to handle, and examine under a light scope, so many examples of the principal 19th-century print processes. The intellectual level was fine. 2: The illustration packets were of great interest and relevance. Having the many great books on the exit reading list shown to the class also relevant. The intellectual level was very appropriate. 3: The best part of RBS is “The School” itself – this is the best organized instruction that I have experienced in 40 plus years in universities in three continents and six countries. RBS sets a world standard! 4: Eighteenth and nineteenth century illustration process. I came here understanding early relief, and could generally pick out early intaglio, but was overwhelmed by the later processes, especially post-photography. It’s all so much clearer now! Yes. 5: All of it. The lab sessions helped enormously in understanding processes. The intellectual level was fine. 6: Exposure to the actual printing processes with “hands-on” printing [labs] all very useful. An introduction to the color printing processes was difficult, but will be useful. 7: Looking at actual examples of different kinds of illustrations was of great value. The intellectual level was most appropriate. 8: Looking at examples. 9: Class packets of examples; intellectual level appropriate, challenging. 10: Distinctions made between various types of processes, handouts, workbook, and course text (basic reference tools).
5) What did you like best about the course?
1: I really appreciated listening to the instructor’s comments about everything – very informed and inspiring – spurs me on to read as much as I can, and to look. I feel as though I have the “beginnings” of knowing how to look at prints. When I felt discouraged, it was a good thing. Just as much – I really valued the hands-on [relief, drypoint, and etching] labs. 2: The illustration packets were valuable and greatly useful. I enjoyed having them in conjunction with the textbook and lectures. The time devoted to labs: linoleum cut, etching, and drypoint, were invaluable to understand the processes. 3: I like the dispatch with which TB deals with flies! 4: The combination of “lecture and looking” at examples was so helpful; the hands-on lab part was way fun, and gave me a deeper appreciation for the processes. 5: The copious illustration packets, and the lab work; made the sessions varied and less exhausting than they might have been. 6: The very “real world” experience of examining original materials, and the experience of creating and printing various printing surfaces. 7: Actually doing three kinds of printing processes was very useful. 8: Learning from a very knowledgeable teacher. 9: The amount of ground covered, in scope, delivered with humour, practical exercises, take-away workbook with large bibliography, stimulating environment. 10: The lab sessions were incredibly helpful for understanding the print processes we were reviewing.
6) How could the course have been improved?
1: Can’t think of anything. It’s obviously an excellent, well-thought out, smoothly run course. 2: I cannot recommend any improvements. Everything seemed as fine-tuned as it could be. TB has it all down pat. 3: I would trade some of the process details for some background context. How did all those New England publishers ever get their woodcuts and who did them? At heart I am a history guy rather than a printing guy. 4: I’m not sure. I’m a bit overwhelmed with what I have learned this week, and it is hard to think of what could have been different or better. 5: Other than extending it to a two-week course with double the material, I don’t think it could be improved. (My only small comment would be the slightly rushed nature of the test on Monday and Friday). 6: More space and more air would be nice. 7: Larger room. 8: Should be a whole semester, but withing the constraints of one week, I think it is very well organized. 9: Perhaps openings for questions at end of sequence on each topic. Would like to have time for the SC tour. 10: Hard to say – It’s pretty good as is.
7) We are always concerned about the physical well-being both of the RBS teaching collections and of materials owned by UVa’s Special Collections. If relevant, what suggestions do you have for the improved classroom handling of such materials used in your course this week?
1: N/A. 2: No suggestions for improvement. The classroom handling was fine. 4: It seems like you need more storage space or more space in general, to make your lives easier, although I’m so impressed with how you utilize every little corner and drawer, and the system the RBS staff manages to run. 5: I’m surprised that pens are allowed. 6: Again, more space would be good. 8: Larger classroom space. 10: A larger classroom with more space between the work tables and the shelves would be a good idea. There were a number of times when we were basically stepping on each other.
8) If you attended the Sunday and/or other evening lectures, were they worth attending?
1: Yes, they were worth attending – very interesting, and a chance to talk to some interesting people as well. 2: Yes, all the outside activities were worthwhile and congenial. 3: Yup. 5: Nice to have a welcome lecture, though the Sunday night one seemed to be more of a fund-raiser than a welcome. The Monday night lecture was very good. 7: Yes, worth attending. 8: Sunday evening, yes: good chance to start becoming acquainted with classmates. The informal demonstration Wednesday (Audubon prints) was very worthwhile. 10: Yes. The Monday lecture, in particular, was very interesting.
9) Did you get your money’s worth? Any final or summary thoughts, or advice for other persons considering taking this course in a future year?
1: Absolutely. I hope to come back some day for more! 2: Yes, I got my money’s worth. It is important to familiarize yourself with Gascoigne before arrival, even if you do not feel you are absorbing everything you are reading. 3: Oh yes. RBS is better than Christmas. 4: Even if I’d paid (I was here on a scholarship) it would be worth the money. This class is fun, non-threatening – a very good learning environment, like nothing I’ve taken before. So wonderful! 5: Excellent course that I would wholeheartedly recommend to anyone. 6: Yes. I have been inspired to try several new projects when I return to work. RBS is, of course, not just about the course in which one is enrolled, but drinking in the whole atmosphere and collections available at RBS. 7: Yes. I intend to come back for different course. 8: Yes. Advice: be prepared to annoy your friends and family from now on with endless chatter about the prints you will now see everywhere. 9: Yes; come prepared, read what you don’t know first. 10: Advice: take time to rest your eyes between sessions; bring eye drops (artificial tears); arrange to came a day early or stay a day later so as to explore Charlottesville.
Number of respondents: 10
Percentages
Leave Tuition Housing Travel
Institution Institution Institution Institution
gave me leave paid tuition paid housing paid travel
90% 60% 80% 80%
I took vaca- I paid tui- I paid for my I paid my own
tion time tion myself own housing travel
0% 10% 10% 20%
N/A: self- N/A: Self- N/A: stayed N/A: lived
employed, re- employed, with friends nearby
tired, or had retired, or or lived at
summers off scholarship home
10% 30% 10% 0%
There were 5 rare book librarians (50%); 3 librarians with some rare book duties (30%); 1 special collections librarian (10%); and 1 antiquarian bookseller (10%).