English Society
1897
Edward Penfield, the art director for Harper's Magazine, was a rockstar of the American poster movement, and this 1897 design for George Du Maurier's 'English Society' shows exactly why. With bold, flat shapes and stark black-and-white contrast, he creates a silhouette of a distinguished gentleman clutching a scruffy terrier—a perfect visual shorthand for upper-class British life. It’s minimalist, graphic, and incredibly modern for the late 19th century, proving you don't need a thousand colors to make a statement. This style helped define the look of American Art Nouveau, moving away from fussy details to bold, readable graphics.
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