Harper’s for July
1892
Imagine the 1890s without billboards—Edward Penfield helped invent the modern poster with this 1892 ad for Harper's Magazine. He uses a giant, ornate blue sign to shout 'HARPER'S FOR JULY,' while patriotic red, white, and blue ribbons dance around a copy of the magazine below. It’s a brilliant mix of Art Nouveau curves and American pride, designed to catch the eye of anyone walking by. As the art director for Harper's, Penfield’s flat, bold style basically taught America how to do graphic design, launching a massive poster collecting craze.
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