The Nickell for November

1896

This vibrant 1896 poster for *The Nickell* magazine is a delightful slice of American Art Nouveau history. Designer Elisha Brown Bird uses a bold, monochromatic orange palette to frame a dapper gentleman clutching the latest issue, flanked by two admiring women beneath a massive, web-like umbrella. The intricate border is pure Art Nouveau candy, filled with swirling tulips and organic curves that draw the eye inward. But the real story is at the bottom: 'Read the Bicycle Department.' This little line captures the 1890s bicycle craze perfectly, a time when cycling clubs were the social media of the day and everyone in Boston wanted to be seen on two wheels.

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