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Illustration and Heritage
Illustration and Heritage explores the re-materialisation of absent, lost, and invisible stories through illustrative practice and examines the potential role of contemporary illustration in cultural heritage. Heritage is a 'process' that is active and takes place in the present. In the heritage industry, there are opposing discourses and positions, and illustrators are a critical voice within the field.
Grounding discussions in concepts fundamental to the illustrator, the book examines how the historical voice might be 'found' or reconstructed. Rachel Emily Taylor uses her own work and other illustrators' projects as case studies to explore how the making of creative work – through the exploration of archival material and experimental fieldwork – is an important investigative process and engagement strategy when working with heritage.
What are the similar functions of heritage and illustration? How can an illustrator 'give voice' to a historical person? How can an illustrator disrupt an archive or museum? How can an illustrator represent a historical landscape or site?
This book is a contribution to the expanding field of illustration research that focusses on its position in heritage practice. Taylor examines the illustrator's role within the field, while positioning it alongside the disciplines of museology, anthropology, archaeology, performance, and fine art.
Grounding discussions in concepts fundamental to the illustrator, the book examines how the historical voice might be 'found' or reconstructed. Rachel Emily Taylor uses her own work and other illustrators' projects as case studies to explore how the making of creative work – through the exploration of archival material and experimental fieldwork – is an important investigative process and engagement strategy when working with heritage.
What are the similar functions of heritage and illustration? How can an illustrator 'give voice' to a historical person? How can an illustrator disrupt an archive or museum? How can an illustrator represent a historical landscape or site?
This book is a contribution to the expanding field of illustration research that focusses on its position in heritage practice. Taylor examines the illustrator's role within the field, while positioning it alongside the disciplines of museology, anthropology, archaeology, performance, and fine art.
192 pages, Hardcover
Published April 18, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
December 2, 2025
Interesting book exploring contemporary illustrations potential to respond to histories and create new heritage. The book is easy to read with practitioner interviews. It also frames the conversation on illustration around “voice” - which is a fairly new and novel idea.
November 11, 2025
Interesting insight to Illustrations place in heritage
loved the sections regarding personalisation of work, the importance of creating stories from the past and engaging with museums
loved the sections regarding personalisation of work, the importance of creating stories from the past and engaging with museums
January 6, 2025
You can find my official review of this book in the Journal of Illustration: https://intellectdiscover.com/content...
Review of: Illustration and Heritage, Rachel Emily Taylor (2024) London: Bloomsbury Publishing, 192 pp.
Based on a practice-based Ph.D., the 192-page Illustration and Heritage contains four distinct chapters exploring the potential of illustration in ‘giving voice’ to our collective sociocultural historical subjects and figures. As a part of a brand-new book series, Research in Illustration by Bloomsbury, this book is an indelible read for historians, archivists, curators, researchers and illustrators.
Review of: Illustration and Heritage, Rachel Emily Taylor (2024) London: Bloomsbury Publishing, 192 pp.
Based on a practice-based Ph.D., the 192-page Illustration and Heritage contains four distinct chapters exploring the potential of illustration in ‘giving voice’ to our collective sociocultural historical subjects and figures. As a part of a brand-new book series, Research in Illustration by Bloomsbury, this book is an indelible read for historians, archivists, curators, researchers and illustrators.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews