Prelude to a Million Years

"Prelude to a Million Years" is a 1933 wordless novel by Lynd Ward, comprising thirty intricately carved illustrations in wood engravings. The work depicts a sculptor obsessed with pursuing ideal beauty, yet oblivious to the hardships faced by his impoverished neighbors during the Great Depression. Ward’s softer Art Deco style marks a departure from his earlier Expressionism-influenced art, emphasizing symbolism and emotional depth. This piece explores themes of aesthetic aspiration versus social reality through powerful visuals, embodying Ward’s mastery of the wordless novel genre rooted in European Surrealism and illustration traditions.