Artvee
  • Browse
    • Abstract
    • Figurative
    • Landscape
    • Illustration
    • Posters
    • Religion
    • Mythology
    • Drawings
    • Still Life
    • Animals
    • Botanical
    • Asian Art
  • Books
  • Artists
  • Explore
    • Topics
    • Culture
    • Movements
  • Highlights
  • Collections
  • Galleries
  • Artvee Pro
Login
Artvee
Menu
Edward Penfield - Collier’s, Vol XXVII
Close
Edward Penfield

Edward Penfield was an American illustrator in the era known as the "Golden Age of American Illustration" and he is considered the father of the American poster. His work has been included in almost every major book on American Illustration or the history of the poster. He is also a major figure in the evolution of graphic design.

He was born June 2, 1866 in Brooklyn, New York to Ellen Lock Moore and Josiah B. Penfield. He first studied at New York's Art Students League. He worked under George de Forest Brush, who was known for his romantic scenes of American Indian life. He first worked for Harper's Weekly and later became art director. He developed his own unique style of simplified figures with bold outlines in settings free of extraneous detail. He believed, "A design that needs study is not a poster, no matter how well executed." He wrote and published a book titled Holland Sketches, which was published by Scribner's in 1907.

Penfield lived in New Rochelle, New York, a popular art colony among actors, writers and artists of the period. The community was most well known for its unprecedented number of prominent American illustrators. He was one of the founding members of the New Rochelle Art Association which was organized in 1912.

His posters were bold and stood out from a distance with great clarity. As artists like Alphonse Mucha, Théophile Steinlen and Toulouse-Lautrec popularized the poster in Europe, Penfield accomplished the same feat in the United States. For his posters, Penfield utilized simple shapes and a limited palette of colors that lent themselves to the primitive methods of reproduction of the era.

More Artworks by Edward Penfield (View all 204 Artworks)

Harper’s round table, interscholastic sport

Harper’s round table, interscholastic sport (1907)

Edward Penfield (American, 1866 - 1925)
Four men riding on top of a carriage being drawn by four horses

Four men riding on top of a carriage being drawn by four horses (1903)

Edward Penfield (American, 1866 - 1925)
U of P

U of P (1908)

Edward Penfield (American, 1866 - 1925)
Harper’s July. The German struggle for liberty

Harper’s July. The German struggle for liberty (1895)

Edward Penfield (American, 1866 - 1925)
Ayer’s Cherry Pectorials

Ayer’s Cherry Pectorials (1890 - 1907)

Edward Penfield (American, 1866 - 1925)
Yale

Yale (1908)

Edward Penfield (American, 1866 - 1925)
Harper’s Christmas number

Harper’s Christmas number (1893)

Edward Penfield (American, 1866 - 1925)
Harper’s August.

Harper’s August. (1894)

Edward Penfield (American, 1866 - 1925)
Midland railway of England

Midland railway of England (1890-1920)

Edward Penfield (American, 1866 - 1925)
Will you help the women of France, Save wheat

Will you help the women of France, Save wheat (1918)

Edward Penfield (American, 1866 - 1925)
Harper’s May

Harper’s May (1896)

Edward Penfield (American, 1866 - 1925)
Harper’s June

Harper’s June (1895)

Edward Penfield (American, 1866 - 1925)
Harper’s, May

Harper’s, May (1893)

Edward Penfield (American, 1866 - 1925)
Harper’s March

Harper’s March (1895)

Edward Penfield (American, 1866 - 1925)
Harper’s May

Harper’s May (1897)

Edward Penfield (American, 1866 - 1925)
Load MoreLoading...
View all 204 Artworks

0 Artworks
Follow
Facebook Twitter Pinterest
Favourite
Collect

Standard, JPG, Size:

Download

Max Size, JPG, Size:

Download
License: All public domain files can be freely used for personal and commercial projects. .
Why is this image in the public domain?
  • Terms
  • Privacy
  • Contact us
Artvee.com 2024 All Rights Reserved
We use cookies to improve your experience on our website. By browsing this website, you agree to our use of cookies.
More info Accept
  • Sign in
  • Browse
    • Abstract
    • Figurative
    • Landscape
    • Illustration
    • Posters
    • Religion
    • Mythology
    • Drawings
    • Still Life
    • Animals
    • Botanical
    • Asian Art
  • Artists
  • Books
  • Explore
    • Topics
    • Culture
    • Movements
  • Highlights
  • Collections
  • Galleries
  • Artvee Pro