The echo, Chicago, May 15, 1895

Will Bradley prints bring the bold lines, flat colour and elegant lettering of American Art Nouveau into your home. Bradley was the foremost American poster designer of the 1890s, created famous covers for The Chap-Book and The Inland Printer, and was later called the "Dean of American Designers". Our collection of fine art prints includes his posters, magazine covers, bicycle advertisements and his designs for the ink makers Ault & Wiborg.

About Will Bradley

William Henry Bradley was born in Boston on 10 July 1868. After his father's death he moved with his mother to Ishpeming, Michigan, where at twelve he became an apprentice at a weekly newspaper. At seventeen he left for Chicago, working briefly as a wood engraver and typographer before turning to freelance design.

His covers for The Inland Printer and posters for The Chap-Book made his name in the mid-1890s. He then returned to Massachusetts and set up the Wayside Press, where he was illustrator, editor, typographer, designer and press manager for his own magazine, Bradley: His Book. From 1895 to about 1900 he designed posters and magazine advertisements for the ink manufacturer Ault & Wiborg.

Later he worked as a consultant for American Type Founders, as an editor at Collier's Weekly and as an art director for William Randolph Hearst's film division, before directing his own films. Several typefaces were based on his lettering. In 1954 he received the AIGA medal, the highest honour for American graphic designers. He kept working until his death at 93 on 25 January 1962.

Style and Subjects

Bradley's style is a branch of Art Nouveau that draws on the Arts and Crafts Movement and Japanese woodblock prints. His posters use flat areas of colour, bold black outlines, swirling decorative patterns and hand-drawn lettering, all built into a single strong design.

His work was often compared with that of Aubrey Beardsley, and critics sometimes called him "the American Beardsley", though he was already established before Beardsley became popular. Bradley is credited with popularising the flat, two-dimensional poster style in the United States.

Famous Works

• When Hearts Are Trumps (1894). An early poster from the year his work took off.
• The Twins (1894). A poster design from his Chap-Book years.
• The Inland Printer, Valentine Issue (1895). One of his celebrated covers for the Chicago printing trade magazine.
• Harper's Bazar, Thanksgiving Number (1895). A holiday cover for the fashion magazine.
• Bradley: His Book (1896), National Gallery of Art, Washington. A poster for his own magazine from the Wayside Press.
• Victor Bicycles (1896). A bicycle poster from the height of the 1890s cycling craze.
• Springfield Bicycle Club Tournament. A poster for a cycling meet in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Decorating with Bradley Prints

Bradley's posters are perfect for a home office, studio, hallway or any space for people who love design and typography. Their bold colour and graphic lettering suit modern, mid-century and vintage interiors alike, and a set of Chap-Book or Inland Printer covers makes a striking gallery wall.

The bicycle posters fit a garage, hallway or bike-lover's den, and his Ault & Wiborg advertisements work well in a kitchen or creative workspace.

FAQ

Who was Will Bradley?

Will Bradley was an American Art Nouveau illustrator, designer and film director who lived from 1868 to 1962. The Saturday Evening Post called him the "Dean of American Designers".

What is Will Bradley known for?

He is best known for his 1890s posters and magazine covers, especially for The Chap-Book and The Inland Printer, and for his own magazine, Bradley: His Book.

Why was Bradley called "the American Beardsley"?

His bold black-and-white designs were often compared with those of the English illustrator Aubrey Beardsley. Bradley was, however, already established before Beardsley became popular in 1894.

Did Will Bradley design typefaces?

Several typefaces were based on his lettering, including Bradley Type (1894), drawn from his lettering for The Inland Printer, and Wayside Roman (1900).

Where can I see Will Bradley's work?

His designs are held by the Library of Congress, the National Gallery of Art and the University of Delaware, among other collections.

Related Artists

• Aubrey Vincent Beardsley: the English illustrator he was often compared with
• Edward Penfield: fellow American poster designer of the 1890s
• Ethel Reed: American Art Nouveau poster designer of the same years
• Louis Rhead: American poster designer of the same era
• Jules Chéret: French pioneer of the poster art Bradley brought to America