Edward Penfield Paintings

American, 1866-1925

One of the best of our native talents, Penfield is well-known for the decade 1891-1901, during which he was the art director of Harper's. For five of the ten years he produced posters for each month's issue of the then-popular magazine. His drawings are deceptively simple, with flat color and clear lines, but they always manage to convey class and refinement. And there's quite often a gentle touch of humor or irony, refreshing and frivolous. Penfield's posters are models of effective composition and economy of expression (Jack Rennert, PAI-XXVII, 555) When his tenure at Harper's came to an end, Penfield was free to travel, and his experiences are preserved in two books published by Scribner's, Holland Sketches (1907) and Spanish Sketches (1911), in which his graphic sense blossomed in a wealth of detail. The critic Royal Cortissoz commented: "When he made [these], he entered thoroughly into the spirit of his themes and did some of his best work... He was never the technical virtuoso alone. Humanity was always breaking into his world." - Frederic B. Taraba "We are a bit tired of the very serious nowadays, and a little frivolity is refreshing, and yet frivolity to be successful must be most thoroughly studied." So wrote EDWARD PENFIELD near the outset of his highly influential career as an illustrator, art editor, and poster artist, a career guided by keen observation, a cosmopolitan sensibility, and simplicity that belied his meticulously crafted efforts. In looking at the work of Penfield today, we find less of what strikes us as frivolous and more of a keen sense of design and composition. The Art Center Bulletin of April 1925 remembered his contribution to illustrative art this way: "To everything he produced Penfield brought his great gifts of design and draftsmanship, a wonderful sincerity that never faltered, and a beautiful humbleness of spirit." As early as 1894, just a year and a half after Penfield began a series of monthly images for Harper's , his work was heralded by Publisher's Weekly: "The advertising poster has within recent years actually soared into the regions of art." Penfield is also credited with bringing abstraction to commercial art through his boldly simplified shapes. This and other stylistic trademarks resulted from a distillation of a number of influences, including the compositional precepts and casual poses found in Japanese prints, the hand-craftsmanship of the Arts and Crafts movement, the impressionistic approach of Parisian poster-making, and British poise and directness.

Artist: Edward Penfield

Edward PenfieldPresident Cleveland, Saturday Evening Post Cover, 1908

$59,000

President Cleveland, Saturday Evening Post Cover

By Edward Penfield

Located in Fort Washington, PA

Medium: Watercolor on Paper Laid to Board Signature: Signed Lower Left Saturday Evening Post Cover, June 20, 1908 Edward Penfield produced some of America’s finest posters. His clean style and large silhouetted shapes resulted from much careful preliminary refinement and elimination of detail. Horses and coaches were a favorite subject with him, as typified with his picture of the colonial Post Road. A notable series of his illustrations were contained in his book, Holland Sketches...

Category

Early 1900s Other Art Style Edward Penfield Paintings

Materials

Paper, Watercolor, Board

Judd Mercer"Red Sentinel" - Contemporary Colorado Red Barn and Silo Gouache Painting, 2019, 2019

$325

H 5 in W 7 in

"Red Sentinel" - Contemporary Colorado Red Barn and Silo Gouache Painting, 2019

By Judd Mercer

Located in Denver, CO

Judd Mercer (American, b. 1982) "Red Sentinel," 2019 Gouache on Strathmore 400 mixed media paper mounted to Aquabord 5 x 7 in (12.7 x 17.78 cm) Location: Boulder, Colorado Framed. A...

Category

2010s Contemporary Edward Penfield Paintings

Materials

Gouache, Paper, Board

Alrene EzicksonA Charming Mid-Century Modern WC of Pirate's Alley, New Orleans, Vieux Carre, circa 1947

$345

H 29.75 in W 23 in D 1.25 in

A Charming Mid-Century Modern WC of Pirate's Alley, New Orleans, Vieux Carre

Located in Chicago, IL

A Charming 1940s Mid-Century Modern Watercolor of Pirate's Alley, New Orleans by Arlene S. Ezickson (Am. 1927-2003). Titled "Vieux Carre, New Orleans" the artwork is watercolor and ...

Category

Mid-20th Century American Modern Edward Penfield Paintings

Materials

Paper, Ink, Watercolor, Board

Judd Mercer"With the Flow" - Contemporary Mountain Stream Landscape Gouache Painting, 2025, 2025

$375

H 8 in W 6 in

"With the Flow" - Contemporary Mountain Stream Landscape Gouache Painting, 2025

By Judd Mercer

Located in Denver, CO

Judd Mercer (American, b. 1982) "With the Flow," 2025 Gouache on Strathmore 400 mixed media paper mounted to Aquabord 8 x 6 in (20.32 x 15.24 cm) Unframed, not ready to hang. Framing...

Category

2010s Contemporary Edward Penfield Paintings

Materials

Gouache, Paper, Board

Judd Mercer"Whisper Fall" - Contemporary Colorado Snow Landscape Gouache Painting, 2024, 2024

$375

H 6 in W 8 in

"Whisper Fall" - Contemporary Colorado Snow Landscape Gouache Painting, 2024

By Judd Mercer

Located in Denver, CO

Judd Mercer (American, b. 1982) "Whisper Fall," 2024 Gouache on Strathmore 400 mixed media paper mounted to Aquabord 6 x 8 in (15.24 x 20.32 cm) Location: Golden, Colorado Unframed, ...

Category

2010s Contemporary Edward Penfield Paintings

Materials

Gouache, Paper, Board

Judd Mercer"Phoenix Rising" - Contemporary Scottsdale Desert Gouache Painting, 2022, 2022

$375

H 6 in W 8 in

"Phoenix Rising" - Contemporary Scottsdale Desert Gouache Painting, 2022

By Judd Mercer

Located in Denver, CO

Judd Mercer (American, b. 1982) "Phoenix Rising," 2022 Gouache on Strathmore 400 mixed media paper mounted to Aquabord 6 x 8 in (15.24 x 20.32 cm) Location: Scottsdale, Arizona Unfra...

Category

2010s Contemporary Edward Penfield Paintings

Materials

Gouache, Paper, Board

Judd Mercer"Olympus" - Contemporary Red Rock Spires Desert Landscape Gouache Painting, 2024, 2024

$375

H 6 in W 8 in

"Olympus" - Contemporary Red Rock Spires Desert Landscape Gouache Painting, 2024

By Judd Mercer

Located in Denver, CO

Judd Mercer (American, b. 1982) "Olympus," 2024 Gouache on Strathmore 400 mixed media paper mounted to Aquabord 6 x 8 in (15.24 x 20.32 cm) Unframed, not ready to hang. Framing optio...

Category

2010s Contemporary Edward Penfield Paintings

Materials

Gouache, Paper, Board

Désiré VillainLes Baux de Provence Gouache Landscape Painting, Signed, 1995, Framed, 1995

$811

H 14.18 in W 17.52 in D 1.19 in

Les Baux de Provence Gouache Landscape Painting, Signed, 1995, Framed

Located in Cotignac, FR

Late 20th century impressionist gouache landscape of "Les Baux de Provence" on paper by French artist Désiré Villain, signed bottom left and to the reverse...

Category

Late 20th Century Edward Penfield Paintings

Materials

Paper, Gouache, Board

19th Century Swedish Monochrome Watercolor King Welcome Scene Signed Frame, e.g. 1897

$400

H 23.9 in W 29.8 in D 1 in

19th Century Swedish Monochrome Watercolor King Welcome Scene Signed Frame

Located in Stockholm, SE

This rare original historical monochrome watercolour (grisaille) of the late 19th century, attributed to the renowned Swedish illustrator Theodor Heurlin (1867–1953), constitutes a v...

Category

Late 19th Century Realist Edward Penfield Paintings

Materials

Wood, Paper, Watercolor, Cardboard

MILDRED BAILEY CARPENTERArt Nouveau Illustration Women and Children in the Woods, 1920s

$10,000

H 10 in W 7.5 in D 1 in

Art Nouveau Illustration Women and Children in the Woods

Located in Miami, FL

Complex Art Nouveau patterns intertwined with gracefull figures define this work by American Artist and illustrator, teacher and lecturer Mildred Bailey Carpenter. Signed in cartouc...

Category

1920s Art Nouveau Edward Penfield Paintings

Materials

Gouache, Paper, Board

James Francis DayMother and Child, circa 1890

$7,500

H 30.75 in W 37.5 in D 3 in

Mother and Child

Located in New York, NY

Watercolor on paper laid on board: An exceptional watercolor in terms of quality and presentation. During this earlier period of Day's career he exhibited extensively and was inspir...

Category

1910s Pre-Raphaelite Edward Penfield Paintings

Materials

Watercolor, Board, Archival Paper

Samuel Grunvald1940's Americana WPA Modernist Watercolor Painting Catskill Mountains Bungalow, c.1940s

$2,500

H 16 in W 18 in

1940's Americana WPA Modernist Watercolor Painting Catskill Mountains Bungalow

By Samuel Grunvald

Located in Surfside, FL

Bungalow (fauvist painting of New York scene) 1940's. image is 10X 11.5 inches. Hand signed lower right Watercolor painting on paper board Country Scene Samuel Grunvald was a Hunga...

Category

1940s Modern Edward Penfield Paintings

Materials

Watercolor, Paper, Board

Victor Di Gesu'Seated Nude', Louvre, Académie Chaumière, LACMA, California Post-Impressionist, Circa 1955

$2,280Sale Price|20% Off

H 11 in W 8.5 in D 0.13 in

'Seated Nude', Louvre, Académie Chaumière, LACMA, California Post-Impressionist

By Victor Di Gesu

Located in Santa Cruz, CA

Victor Di Gesu (American, 1914-1988) estate stamp verso and painted circa 1955. Winner of the Prix Othon Friesz, Victor di Gesu first attended the Los Angeles Art Center and the Cho...

Category

1950s Edward Penfield Paintings

Materials

Paper, Gouache, Foam Board, Graphite

Previously Available Items

Edward PenfieldWoman with Hounds, Original Cover for The Saturday Evening Post, 1906

Sold

H 17 in W 12 in

Woman with Hounds, Original Cover for The Saturday Evening Post

By Edward Penfield

Located in Fort Washington, PA

Cover of The Saturday Evening Post, October 27, 1906 Edward Penfield, widely recognized as the father of American poster design, revolutionized visual communication with his minima...

Category

Early 1900s Edward Penfield Paintings

Materials

Watercolor, Board

Edward PenfieldPoliceman on Horseback, 1915

Sold

H 13 in W 10.5 in

Policeman on Horseback

By Edward Penfield

Located in Fort Washington, PA

Magazine Cover of a policeman on horseback. Edward Penfield produced some of America’s finest posters. His clean style and large silhouetted shapes resulted from much careful preliminary refinement and elimination of detail. Horses and coaches were a favorite subject with him, as typified with his picture of the colonial Post Road. A notable series of his illustrations were contained in his book, Holland Sketches...

Category

1910s Other Art Style Edward Penfield Paintings

Materials

Board, Oil

Edward Penfield paintings for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Edward Penfield paintings available for sale on 1stDibs. You can also browse by medium to find art by Edward Penfield in paint, board, paper and more. Not every interior allows for large Edward Penfield paintings, so small editions measuring 11 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Werner Drewes, Charles Hargens, and Randall Berndt. Edward Penfield paintings prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $7,500 and tops out at $59,000, while the average work can sell for $7,500.