The Broad and Narrow Way - Tinted and Six Colour Editions

Gawin Kirkham in his "History and Explanation of the picture “The Broad and The Narrow Way” Explained the two versions of his famous picture – Both versions are now available through the online Gallery shop at the links highlighted. A Tinted Edition seen on the left and a Six Colour Edition on the right.

THE ENGLISH EDITION.

Gawin Kirkham writes in his - Explanation "Resuming my own narrative, I now come to the production of the English edition of the Picture. After my lectures people naturally wanted the Picture. So when 4,000 Dutch copies had been imported and sold, Messrs. MORGAN AND SCOTT issued an English Shilling Edition, in October, 1883. The size was the same as that of the German and Dutch, viz., nineteen inches by twenty-four, and, like them, it was tinted only. But when a pretty edition in six colours was produced, it became first favourite with the public, and is now the only one printed. So great has been the demand that 50,000 copies have been sold in five years; and it has been carried to the ends of the earth. At the same time (October, 1883) a miniature copy of the Picture was engraved and printed on the title page of the Explanation. The present issue brings the total of this explanation in English to 100,000."

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What is fascinating about studying these old pictures is learning about the printing technology back in those days. What we take for granted today.....printing was a huge step back in those days. The process of printing for along time had been only black ink, and colouring had to be done by hand......then came a new process of Chromolithography 1837, which revolutionised printing, and gradually with in a few decades had transitioned from tinted to full colour. Gawin Kirkham was the Secretary of the Open- Air Mission and would use a huge 12ft x 9ft version of the Broad and Narrow Way to preach the Gospel. In many ways he made the picture famous through his preaching tours in the UK and which also saw him visit the USA, the Continent and Israel. During his time he made two editions of the same picture, one tinted and one in six colours. The prints were sold in thousands and went to the four corners of the world.

My first encounter with the Broad and Narrow Way picture, was way back growing up in the 1960s. (I am showing my age now) My family would sometimes visit the home of my Great Auntie - Florence E Swindells.....it was always a special occasion for us. Auntie Florence, was a very gracious and Godly lady and would often quote scripture..I was always very impressed listening to Auntie who had a very strong belief in God and had a wonderful testimony how she came to Christ. Auntie was very well traveled and would often hold slide shows of various places she had visited around the world. And hanging on the wall of Aunties home was the picture the Broad and Narrow Way - As a young boy I found it both fascinating and mysterious and if I remember correctly, Auntie said it was like a silent witness which the Holy Spirit spoke through....which deepened the mystery even more! From time to time she fondly recounted stories of children who came to visit her home for music lessons, and would look at this curious picture. One little girl, she recalled would go home afterwards to look up scripture verses in the picture.

Some years later in the 1980s - Auntie Florence was planning to move to a small apartment, and gave the Broad and Narrow Way picture with "History and Explanation as a gift to me - I was of course very thrilled and honoured to have this......I was very intrigued by this picture, and now I was able to study it even closer. The "History and Explanation" of the picture was very well written and conveyed so much in just 32 pages. It was printed sometime after 1892.... but what has happened since those days? Who actually was the designer, Charlotte Reihlen? where is her 1st edition of the picture? and who was Gawin Kirkham the open-air preacher? These were some of the questions I had back in those days. Back in pre-internet days these questions were not so easy to research.....but the internet has made a big difference and searching information much easier....

To see more information and research into the picture.http://pictureswithamessage.com/index.htm?931