Prelude to a Million Years

"Prelude to a Million Years" (1933) by Lynd Ward is a wordless novel composed of thirty detailed wood engravings that explore a profound illustration of human aspirations and societal neglect during the Great Depression. The narrative follows a sculptor’s obsessive search for ideal beauty, symbolized through rich imagery that reflects Ward’s evolution from his earlier Expressionism-influenced work to a softer Art Deco style. The engravings subtly critique societal tendencies to overlook the struggles of ordinary people, embodying expressive symbolism rooted in Ward's European studies of Expressionism.