Cover for 1897 Calendar
1896
Edward Penfield captures the quintessential bohemian artist in this 1896 poster, complete with a jaunty red hat, a pipe clenched in his teeth, and a curious cat inspecting his work. As a pioneer of American Art Nouveau, Penfield helped define the look of Harper's Magazine covers, bringing a bold, graphic style to everyday advertising. This self-referential calendar cover shows the artist at his desk, ink bottle in hand, while his feline companion seems ready to walk right across the fresh yellow paper. It's a charming snapshot of late 19th-century creative life, published by R.H. Russell & Son in New York.
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