The technique of telling a story through a sequence of pictures, though associated with modern cartoons, was 1 fact in use about 500 years ago. Some wonderful examples of these early cartoons can now be seen at an exhibition in London, all of which were produced to order for wealthy clients. 2 makes this art form so interesting is that it flourished in one small part of Europe – Flanders, today a region of northern Belgium — only to die out as printing was developed. Many of the tiny pictures were 3 larger than a postage stamp. They were painted by hand in books about 4 size of a modern paperback. The artists, whose skills were rewarded by high salaries, worked slowly, and the buyers sometimes had to wait years for the work to be completed. In the 5 of one four-volume example, the buyer waited for more than a decade. 6 the majority of these cartoons depict religious stories, other subjects are illustrated, too. Episodes from history were popular, 7 fairy tales. And yet the artists had a visual style that seems oddly modern. They made full use of perspective and techniques familiar to us today from films, such as following a long shot 8 a dramatic close-up.