Harper's July (1899)

This page presents "Harper's July" (1899), created by Edward Penfield. The catalogue places it in Vintage Posters. The format is landscape. Vintage Posters, a short history: Posters announced theatre, travel, products, and events, combining image and lettering to be read at a glance from the street. 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. Historical background, 1899: The later nineteenth century is the era of Impressionism, whose first group exhibition was held in Paris in 1874, followed by Post-Impressionism, Symbolism, and the Arts and Crafts movement. Japanese prints reached Europe in large numbers and influenced many artists, while photography changed what painting needed to do.

Buying "Harper's July" 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 landscape format suits wide, low wall spaces such as the stretch above a bed, mantel, or sideboard. A simple frame with a mat often helps an image settle comfortably into a room. 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. Screens and printers render colour differently, so a small test print is a sensible way to check tones before committing to a large size.

American, 1866–1925

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