Woman Picking Up Bathing Suits
Technique: Giclée quality print
Recommended by our customers
More about this artwork
This painting by Edward Penfield, titled "Woman Picking Up Bathing Suits," is a striking example of decorative illustration, which reflects the aesthetics of the early 20th century, particularly influenced by the Art Nouveau movement. The artwork depicts a scene where a woman is interacting with a man who is partially visible inside a wooden changing booth labeled "BATHING SUITS".The man is shown handing over a selection of blue bathing suits to the woman, who stands confidently and elegantly dressed in a black outfit highlighted by a graceful cape. Her posture is poised, and she sports a stylish hat that complements her fashionable appearance. The muted background of the image is divided into blocks of plain color, reminiscent of Japanese woodblock prints—a notable influence on western artists during this era.This illustration not only highlights Edward Penfield’s keen sense of style and design but also subtly captures a social moment, presenting a glimpse into leisure activities of the period, and how they were intertwined with emerging trends in fashion and public behavior. The artwork's clean lines, restricted color palette, and balanced composition are emblematic of Penfield's work and contribute significantly to its visual appeal and narrative depth.
Delivery
Returns
Edward Penfield (1866-1925) was an influential American poster artist, considered as the father of the American poster movement. He was employed as an art editor for Harper’s Weekly, Monthly, and Harper’s Bazaar, where he made posters advertising each issue of the magazine for over seven years. His art was avant-garde with less concern for the dramatic curving lines of Art Nouveau, inspired by Japanese ukiyo-e block prints, figure drawings by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, color lithographies by Jules Chéret, and other contemporary artists. He created simplified scenes of daily life in saturated colors, including horses, cats, sports, and women’s fashion.