River of Ink

With grace, poetry, clarity, and expert knowledge, artist Etienne Appert brings us a book about the very origins of the art of illustration—what it means and why it exists.

“Why do you draw?” A simple question by a young boy moves the author to travel with him down the River of Ink, which flows from the present day back to the very first illustration drawn by a human. Along the way, they visit legendary artists of the past and encounter personal tales that explore the philosophy of communication through drawing. Why do we draw? It’s a simple question with a spellbinding and complex answer with an entirely new and entertaining look at the history of art.

Also featured is an illustrated interview between Appert and comics master Scott McCloud (Understanding Comics, The Sculptor) that no reader should miss!