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.

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“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.