pictorial (adj.)

1640s, "of or pertaining to pictures or the making of them," with -al (1) + Latin pictorius "of a painter," from pictor "painter," from past participle stem of pingere "to make pictures" (see paint (v.)). Meaning "expressed or depicted in pictures" is from 1807; the sense of "illustrated by or containing pictures" is by 1826. The noun meaning "journal in which pictures are the main feature" is attested by 1844. Related: Pictorially.