What is illustration?

What Does illustration Mean

Illustration is the action and effect of illustrating (drawing, decorating). The term allows to name the drawing , print or engraving that adorns, documents or decorates a book . For example: "This book has a nice illustration of a unicorn" , "The illustrations of my last novel were made by a French artist" . "I want a book with illustrations of animals to give to my son . "

In this same sense, it must be stated that illustration is a term that is also commonly used to refer to the periodical publication that is usually composed of both text and plates and drawings of various types.
The verb illustrate can also be used as a synonym to give light to understanding : "Thanks to the doctor, we are going to enlighten ourselves on epidemiology" , "I am going to enlighten you on the matter through this conference . "

This use of the concept is related to the Enlightenment as a philosophical movement that emerged in the 18th century and was characterized by highlighting the predominance of reason . Enlightenment is the name given to this movement and the time in which it developed.
The Age of Enlightenment was also called this historical stage, which, in addition to the cited signs of identity, opted for having another series of essential characteristics such as hypercriticism, imitation, universalism and idealism.
Enlightenment thinkers believed that ignorance and superstition could be fought through human reason. Reason would also help end tyrannies and build a better world.
The leaders of the movement felt chosen to educate the people and lead the people into a new kind of society . The Enlightenment held that the Old Regime and absolutism in general relied on the ignorance of the population to establish dominance.
Among the most important figures of that period we should highlight, for example, Montesquieu. This is a politician and thinker who was one of the fathers of the establishment of the theory of the separation of powers, which became one of the fundamental pillars of the modern rule of law.
Rousseau, who developed important republican theories, or Voltaire, manifestly against fanaticism and intolerance, were two of the most important and fundamental figures within the Enlightenment movement.
One of the main consequences of the development of the Enlightenment was the change that occurred within society. Specifically, this period was establishing the end of the so-called estate society and the appearance of the bourgeoisie took place. An establishment that will be able to gain more and more prominence at all levels. So much so that it will occupy positions of importance at the political level to the detriment of the reigning and dominant aristocracy until that very moment.

It should be noted that the movement was anthropocentric (it considers the human being as the center of actions), rationalist (reality is limited to sensible experience) and pragmatic (the useful is the only valid thing).

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