Study for Harper's January (In Washington's Day)
Penfield’s study for the poster advertising the January 1896 issue of Harper’s contains the hallmarks of his influential style. In the sparse composition, George Washington is set against a plain blue background, and the lettering is done by hand rather than letterpress—a technique commonly used for printing type. Penfield altered the composition for the final version, rendering Washington frontally rather than in profile. The study provides a glimpse into poster production in the 1890s, when publishing firms such as Harper’s spearheaded technical and stylistic innovations in the field of graphic design.
Artwork Details
- Title: Study for Harper's January (In Washington's Day)
- Artist: Edward Penfield (American, Brooklyn, New York 1866–1925 Beacon, New York)
- Date: ca. 1896
- Medium: Ink, watercolor, and gouache on two pieces of blue paper
- Dimensions: Sheet: 6 11/16 × 4 5/16 in. (17 × 11 cm)
- Classification: Drawings
- Credit Line: Leonard A. Lauder Collection of American Posters, Gift of Leonard A. Lauder, 2023
- Object Number: 2023.423
- Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints
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