Harper's [for] April (1894)

Edward Penfield is the artist behind "Harper's [for] April", dated 1894. Context for 1894: In the 1890s, colour lithography and Art Nouveau made the illustrated poster a celebrated art form. Japanese prints reached Europe in large numbers and influenced many artists, while photography changed what painting needed to do. Vintage Posters, a short history: Art Nouveau, Art Deco, and later modernist design each left a recognisable poster style. Colour lithography in the 1890s turned the illustrated poster into a major art form, and cities such as Paris and Prague became centres of poster design. It is listed in the Vintage Posters collection. The image is in portrait orientation.

Buying "Harper's [for] April" means getting a digital file, not a physical print: Digital JPEG + PDF files, 300 DPI, delivered by email once payment is confirmed. A 300 DPI file is intended for printing at home or at a local print shop, where you can choose a matte, satin, or fine-art paper to suit the room. A portrait format suits narrow wall spaces, hallways, and the area beside a door or window. A simple frame with a mat often helps an image settle comfortably into a room. Screens and printers render colour differently, so a small test print is a sensible way to check tones before committing to a large size. Hang the print away from direct sunlight, which over the years can fade any printed colour. Choosing a standard frame size and printing to fit it often saves the cost of custom framing.

American, 1866–1925

If you like the visual language of Edward Penfield, explore more works by the same artist in our collection.