About Paris (1895)

Edward Penfield (1866-1925) was a prominent American illustrator and poster artist, often referred to as the father of the American poster movement. Born in Brooklyn, New York, he received his training at the Art Students League in New York City. Penfield's career took off when he became the art director at Harper's magazine, where he designed a series of monthly posters that have been characterized as the definitive graphic works of the 1890s. His work, which utilized simple shapes and a limited palette of colors, was instrumental in shaping American graphic design in the 1890s. After leaving Harper's in 1901, Penfield continued to be extremely active in both design and illustration, creating posters for other magazines, book covers, and commercial designs.