Journey through Journals: Journal of Illustration

As journals are regularly published they are an ideal source of current research and resources. Today we are going to explore the online Journal of Illustration.

The Journal of Illustration describes itself as an international forum to discuss all aspects relating to illustration: cultural, political, social, philosophical. It covers both the history of illustration and contemporary issues as well, seeking to establish a definition and body of research on an often-neglected and ever-changing artistic discipline. As a peer-reviewed journal, it maintains the highest levels of scholastic integrity and the journal encourages academic research and critical thinking on the art, associated forms of visual communication, and the role of the illustrator themselves.  

The content varies from issue to issue, but includes: 

• Articles 
• Research Projects 
• Critical essays  
• Profiles  
• Reviews – of books, artists, exhibitions, galleries and museums. 

Looking over the years, the journal tackles a variety of topics – Education in 2022, illustration’s place in book history in 2021, illustration in psychology and medicine in 2020, ornamentation and architecture in 2019.  

Examining the 2024 issues, we can see the issues revolve around the theme of transitions – how illustration is both in a transitive moment as a medium and how it can be used to help express other transitions in our world. One article delves into the graphic adaptation of the Handmaid’s tale, discussing how illustration translates the dystopian themes of the book into imagery and ‘visual texts’ that recur throughout the adaptation.  

Another article examines how illustration is being used to help international Korean adoptees express their emotions and identity around their experiences, while in a different issue we have a research article on using illustration as a catalyst to community conversations.

They have a review of an exhibition that uses illustration to enhance the outside exhibition, Illustrated Menagerie Augmented Reality Scavenger Hunt (IMARSH), while the previous issue includes a review of the Raymond Briggs Exhibition, describing the experience of visiting it at the Cambridge University Library in 2023, alongside an essay diving into the life and career of artist Stéphane Mandelbaum. 

If you’re looking for other journals on similar themes, such as illustration and art, check out the journals on the top floor of Harrison Library:   

• Artists and Illustrators Magazine PER 709 
• Artforum International PER 709  
• Art Review PER 709 

If you are looking for online resources see our subject page