Turn of the Century Posters

This collection of posters from the turn of the century shows the evolution of the contemporary poster as a desirable work of art. “The advent of the art poster in America is traceable to the publication of Edward Penfield’s poster advertising the March 1893 issue of Harper’s. In the hands of major artists such as Penfield, Will Bradley and Charles Hubbard Wright, the poster moved from the realm of commercial art to an elevated, artistic position. As early as 1895, posters began appearing in catalogs of exhibitions and collections. As a result, a shift developed in the industry toward well-designed, illustrated covers of magazines and dust jackets for books; at the same time, newspaper illustration advanced. By the end of the 1890s, the art poster had helped pave the way to a rapidly developing advertising industry that reverberates on Madison Avenue yet today.” (NYPL)