Latvian graphic arts developed from book and newspaper design. In 1904, a group of writers and artists founded a publishing house Zalktis that paid much attention to the visual qualities of books that featured drawings and letters in the art nouveau style complemented with graphic ornaments and flowing lines.

The founders of Latvian graphics also used to draw for the popular humour periodicals. In 1907 in St Petersburg the magazine Pēriens, Spēriens, Ķēriens replaced the earlier Zvārguļa Zobgaļa kalendārs. Graphic vignettes for literary magazines have been drawn by most Latvian artists who also considered it an honour to provide illustrations for original works in poetry and prose by Latvian authors. Rihards Zariņš, Oļģerts Ābelīte, Pēteris Upītis, Aleksandrs Junkers, Arturs Apinis are all regarded classics of the genre.

The first exhibition of graphic arts, with the participation of thirteen authors with 104 works, took place shortly before World War I. Since then, Latvians have particularly excelled in wood etching that is considered one of the most difficult techniques.

Latvians are avid readers who also take care to preserve their books. In 1897, Rihards Zariņš created the first book plate for his wife Eva and since that time ex libris has been a very popular genre in Latvian graphic arts.

A good graphic design is based on perfect drawing. Uga Skulme with his series The Poor Man’s Bible (1920s), Sigismunds Vidbergs and Kārlis Padegs are still unsurpassed masters of the line.

Indriķis Zeberiņš, Oskars Norītis, Gunārs Krollis, Aleksandrs Stankēvičs, Valdis Villerušs, Gunārs Cilītis have all made a significant contribution to the development of book design.

The versatility of technique is hardly an end in itself: it is just a means for conveying an image. Perhaps it is not the Word but Line that was in the beginning. It is with an expressive line alone that a good graphic artist can reveal the philosophical dimension of a landscape. Ilmārs Blumbergs is a master of line par excellence. Aleksandrs Dembo, Heinrihs Vorkals, Lilija Dinere, Juris Petraškēvics, Guntars Sietiņš, Māris Subačs, Vita Lenerte-Grasa, Aivars Vilipsons and Roberts Koļcovs represent various techniques, philosophies and generations, but all put out artistically powerful and interesting work.