Since 1970, "book craftsman" Martin Frost has been practicing the forgotten art of fore-edge painting. This is a technique whereby a hardcover book is placed in a special vise/press, like so…

Enter a caption (optional)

Enter a caption (optional)

…enabling Frost to work the spread edges of the pages like a canvas.

Enter a caption (optional)

Enter a caption (optional)

Once returned to its normal disposition, the book then has the page edges gilded.

Enter a caption (optional)

That hides the image from all except those who know they exist, who can then bend the pages to make the image appear.

Enter a caption (optional)

Here are some examples of Frost's work:

Enter a caption (optional)

Enter a caption (optional)

Enter a caption (optional)

Enter a caption (optional)

Enter a caption (optional)

Enter a caption (optional)

The technique was developed in the 1600s, and unsurprisingly few people practice it today. In addition to selling his work, Frost teaches fore-edge painting workshops in an effort to keep the art alive.

I was particularly interested in the press he uses, and dismayed to see that locking it down makes a damned terrible racket:

Surely we could design something easier on the ears, no?