Fore Edge Paintings
Fore-edge painting, which is believed to date back as early as the 1650s, is a way of hiding a painting on the edge of a book so that it can only be seen when the pages are fanned out. There are even books that have double fore-edge paintings, where a different image can be seen by flipping the book over and fanning the pages in the opposite direction.
Know more:
http://www.thisiscolossal.com/2013/09/fore-edge-book-paintings/
Love that Corina Marinescu! Secret messages, too?
ReplyDeleteI wonder I this was primarily done to hide art that was otherwise taboo or just for aesthetic reasons.
ReplyDeleteHiding like what, Dirk Reul ? Ancient porn?
ReplyDeleteI have the feeling all this was the idea of a guy =))
Well that could be one use, Corina Marinescu but erotica has been read by women (those educated enough) in the past too :) it might have been something as simple as depictions of the human form which may have been frowned upon otherwise
ReplyDeleteI think it was an interesting idea...combining books and art. A secret into a secret.
ReplyDeleteGood point, Alan Clegg!
ReplyDeleteI think Jeanne Bennett wrote a book about this technique is called 'Hidden Treasures: The History and Technique of Fore-edge Painting'
ReplyDeleteHere is a preview:
http://www.fephiddentreasures.com/uploads/HiddenTreasures_BookBrochure.pdf
Have a fantastic year Bruce Harry !
ReplyDeleteOnce again, thanks for posting, Corina Marinescu!! Fascinating.
ReplyDeleteWelcome Zane Newton =)
ReplyDeleteForgive my puerile mind folks, but I'm chuckling that some of the hidden fore-edge images are nudes... tee hee =D
ReplyDeleteWOW! Thanks for that bit of knowledge!
ReplyDelete