Edward Penfield Quote about Poster Art circa 1897

Within the past few years the word Poster has been growing in significance, until now we look upon it as describing a decoration, thoroughly fin de siecle, and perhaps pleasing.

A poster should tell its story at once – a design that needs study is not a poster, no matter how well it is executed.

A poster has to play to the public over the variety stage, so to speak – to come en with a personality of its own and to remain but a few moments. 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. I think it was one of the Beggarstaff Brothers who said: “Our designs may not look as if much time was spent upon them, but I can assure you that it has taken all the artistic knowledge we possess to bring them to the simple state in which you see them.”

Some posters, consisting of but a few lines and containing but a few broad masses of color, require a dozen drawings before simplicity and harmony of color are obtained.

A poster, to be effective, must have the same qualities that a good painting possesses – color, simplicity and composition – but must be expressed in a different manner.

The strong appeal that the modern poster has made to our sense of color and composition has brought to light the poster collector, and it is for him that this little book has been prepared. Some of the best examples of the work of masters of the poster-art in France, England, Germany and America are presented, and to them are added numerous designs by men of more or less ability.

Besides the posters, there is the most complete set of portraits of poster designers that has yet appeared.

BY EDWARD PENFIELD, introduction to Posters in miniature Published in 1897