The Pioneering Vision of *The Graphic* Founded in December 1869 by the artist and engraver William Luson Thomas, *The Graphic* emerged as a bold challenge to the established dominance of the *Illustrated London News*. More than just another illustrated newspaper, it was conceived as a platform prioritizing visual storytelling and artistic merit. Thomas, frustrated with what he perceived as the exploitative treatment of artists by his former employer, envisioned a publication where draughtsmen and engravers were valued contributors, not merely factory hands churning out images. This commitmen…