Printing Press
In the 15th century, Johannes Gutenberg’s printing press revolutionized graphic communication by advancing mass communication through text production. The Gutenberg press was a movable metal-type printing system, built upon existing inventions such as paper production and the screw press. With the growing demand for efficient production and the increased request for books in the 15th century, Gutenberg’s printing press provided a solution by producing books in greater quantities than hand-copying allowed.
Sketch of Gutenberg Press (2024, June 9). K. Eckelmann, Why was the Gutenberg printing press important? The Collector. Retrieved from https://www.thecollector.com/why-was-the-gutenberg-printing-press-important/
Johannes Gutenberg. creation by Fondo Antiguo, and the Gutenberg printing press retrieved from The invention and history of the printing press. Interesting Engineering. https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/the-invention-and-history-of-the-printing-press
This use of text enabled communication to become easily accessible and mass-produced, allowing people to learn from the spread of knowledge and ideas. The widespread production of text led to higher literacy rates, facilitating the spread of ideas across Europe as more people gained access to knowledge (Fiveable, 2024). The leap from cave paintings to print allowed graphic communication to evolve over time. Visuals progressed from depictions of warnings, celebrations, and teachings to contributions in intellectual progress and the advancement of learning in fields such as science, literature, and philosophy (Fiveable, 2024). The printing press transformed visual communication, allowing knowledge to be quickly and widely shared through text.