The Echo: Chicago's Humorous and Artistic Fortnightly

William H. Bradley (American, 1868-1962) designed this poster in 1895 for The Echo, a fortnightly publication in Chicago that ran from May 1895 until July 1897. In total, Bradley created seven designs promoting this new paper, all seemingly different from one another but advertising the same publication. He was strongly influenced by English illustrator Aubrey Beardsley and followed the Art Nouveau style -defined by its use of long, sinuous and organic lines- and borrowed elements from Japanese prints such as flat, broad color planes. Bradley was said to have created the first American Art Nouveau poster a couple of years prior to his work for The Echo.

Within this poster’s design, two whimsical women walk amongst waving trees and a winding body of water, weaving themselves into nature. Although utilizing only three primary colors, Bradley’s unique use of layers within his design creates a more complex composition that draws the viewer's eye across the page. 

This poster, as well as many other designs by Will Bradley, was featured in Les Maitres de l’Affiche (Masters of the Poster), a collection of 256 color lithographic plates compiled by Jules Chéret. Created as a way for collectors to access smaller formats of popular posters, this publication was delivered monthly as a subscription between December 1895 and November 1900.

Bradley, Will, and Clarence Pearson Hornung. Will Bradley: His Graphic Art: A Collection of His Posters, Illustrations, Typographic Designs & Decorations. New York (N.Y.): Dover, 1974. 

David W., Phillip Dennis Cate, and Nancy Finlay. American Art Posters of the 1890s: In the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Including the Leonard A. Lauder Collection: Catalogue, October 22 1987-January 10 1988. Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1987. 

Roberta Waddell "Will Bradley and the Poster" Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin. n.s. vol. 30, no. 6, June-July 1972, fig. no. 3, pp. 294, 296-7.