Illustrierter

Illustrierter is a German adjective and past participle derived from the verb illustrieren, meaning to illustrate. The basic sense of the word is “illustrated” or “containing illustrations.” It is used to describe printed works or media that feature images, for example in phrases like ein illustrierter Band (an illustrated volume) or eine illustrierte Zeitschrift (an illustrated magazine). When used attributively before a noun, illustrierter agrees with gender and case (e.g., ein illustrierter Band, eine illustrierte Zeitung).

Historically, illustrierter and related forms appeared prominently in the titles of periodicals in German-speaking regions. The terms signified content that combined text with images, such as engravings, woodcuts, or later photographs. This usage reflects the publishing technology of the time, which progressed from traditional illustrations to halftone and photographic images.

In contemporary German, illustrierter remains active as a descriptive term in bibliographic, cataloging, and editorial contexts, though many publications no longer rely on the word in headlines and titles as a distinct branded label. The form is part of a broader historical trajectory in which illustrated media played a central role in informing and entertaining readers, before and alongside developments in mass communication and visual journalism.