Edward Penfield

Edward Penfield was an American illustrator and poster artist active from the late 19th century to the early 20th century . Also known as the "father of the American poster," his simple, bold designs and vivid colors had a major impact on American poster art.

Edward Penfield Biography

• Born June 2, 1866 in Brooklyn, New York, USA
• Studied at the Art Students League of New York in the late 1880s
• In 1891, he became an illustrator for Harper's Magazine.
• He was art director of Harper's Magazine from 1893 to 1901.
• Since 1901, he has worked as a freelance illustrator and poster artist.
• Died February 8, 1925 in Beacon, New York, USA (age 58)

Representative works

Poster:

• Harper's Magazine Poster Series (1893–1901)
• "Bicycle Poster" series

Book cover and illustrations:

• "Red Badge of Courage"
• "The King's Jackal"

Penfield's style and achievements

Penfield's work is characterized by simple, bold designs and vivid colors. He established his own style while being influenced by Japanese Ukiyo-e and Art Nouveau . His posters are highly regarded not only for their functionality as advertisements, but also as works of art.

As art director for Harper's Magazine , Penfield produced many innovative posters that had a major impact on American poster art and on subsequent graphic designers.

Penfield was a pioneer of American poster art, and his work continues to influence contemporary design.