description Lynd Ward - Vertigo Overview
Vertigo is a 1937 wordless novel created by American illustrator Lynd Ward, comprising 230 wood engravings. As the final and most ambitious of Ward's six wordless novels, it interweaves the separate narratives of an elderly businessman, a young female factory worker, and a young male laborer. Set against the backdrop of the Great Depression, the narrative unfolds entirely through cinematic visual sequences without text. The work is studied by scholars of visual arts and graphic storytelling as an early milestone in the development of the graphic novel format.
help Lynd Ward - Vertigo FAQ
What is the plot of Lynd Ward's Vertigo?
Lynd Ward's Vertigo is a 1937 wordless novel in 230 wood engravings that interweaves the lives of three characters during the Great Depression. It follows a young woman, a wealthy industrialist, and a restaurant owner whose fates collide after the 1929 stock market crash.
Does Lynd Ward's Vertigo contain any text?
Vertigo is entirely a wordless novel, relying completely on a sequence of powerful wood engravings to tell the cinematic story. The only text present in the original edition is the title and brief chapter headings like The Girl, The Man, and The Boy.
How does the artwork in Vertigo reflect its historical context?
Ward utilized stark, contrasting black-and-white lines to effectively capture the anxiety, paranoia, and societal dread of the Great Depression. The shifting perspectives and dense urban imagery reflect the economic instability and literal vertigo experienced by Americans during the 1930s.
Was Vertigo an influence on later graphic novels?
Yes, Lynd Ward's pioneering work in Vertigo and his other wordless woodcut novels deeply influenced the development of modern graphic novels. Acclaimed comic artists like Art Spiegelman (Maus) have frequently cited Ward's cinematic pacing as a massive inspiration to their storytelling.
explore Explore More
Similar to Lynd Ward - Vertigo
See all arrow_forward
Reviews & Comments
Write a Review
Be the first to review
Share your thoughts with the community and help others make better decisions.
