Root
1915
Meet Elihu Root, the Nobel Peace Prize-winning politician with the fantastic white mustache, staring right at you from this bold 1915 portrait by Edward Penfield. Penfield was a giant of American illustration, often called the father of the American poster movement, and he brings that graphic punch here with stark black outlines and a speckled grey suit. The single red 'R' in 'ROOT' pops against the olive background, giving this piece a modern, almost pop-art feel decades before Warhol. It's a striking example of how early 20th-century illustrators turned serious political figures into stylish graphic icons.
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