William Bradley (artist)
Encyclopedia
William H. Bradley was an American Art Nouveau
illustrator and artist. Nicknamed the "Dean of American Designers", he was the highest paid American artist of the early 20th century.
. He moved back to Massachusetts and set up the Wayside Press, where he served as an illustrator, editor, typographer, designer, and press manager for a periodical aptly named Bradley: His Book. The periodical usually contained compilations of poetry, stories, and sketches, and his work received a warm reception. He had achieved financial success, but the stress of managing so many projects at once began to damage his health, and he collapsed at the age of 28. He recovered quickly, but he was forced to sell the Wayside Press. He later worked as a consultant for the American Type Founders and as an editor for Collier's Weekly
. He worked briefly with children’s books, then for William Randolph Hearst
’s film division as a set designer. In 1954, Bradley published a memoir of his life, called Bradley: His Chap Book, though only 650 copies were ever published. The same year, he won the AIGA award, the highest honor for graphic designers. He was a prolific artist and designer up until his death at age 94.
, (where he was considered the foremost illustrator and poster designer of this movement) though it draws heavily from the aesthetics of the Arts and Crafts Movement
and Japanese block printing
. His work was often compared to that of his English contemporary, Aubrey Beardsley
, so much so that some critics dismissed him as simply “The American Beardsley.” Bradley was already an established artist by the time Beardsley’s designs became popular in England in 1894.
Bradley's primary medium was poster
s, at the time a developing art form. Poster art was pioneered at the turn of the century by French artists like Jules Chéret
and Toulouse-Lautrec, but Bradley is credited with popularizing the two-dimensional poster style in the United States.
Art Nouveau
Art Nouveau is an international philosophy and style of art, architecture and applied art—especially the decorative arts—that were most popular during 1890–1910. The name "Art Nouveau" is French for "new art"...
illustrator and artist. Nicknamed the "Dean of American Designers", he was the highest paid American artist of the early 20th century.
Biography
He was born in Boston, Massachusetts, and at the age of 12 he obtained a job as a printer for a weekly newspaper. He later left for Chicago, Illinois, where he held a few brief jobs as a wood engraver and typographer before dedicating himself to freelance graphic designGraphic design
Graphic design is a creative process – most often involving a client and a designer and usually completed in conjunction with producers of form – undertaken in order to convey a specific message to a targeted audience...
. He moved back to Massachusetts and set up the Wayside Press, where he served as an illustrator, editor, typographer, designer, and press manager for a periodical aptly named Bradley: His Book. The periodical usually contained compilations of poetry, stories, and sketches, and his work received a warm reception. He had achieved financial success, but the stress of managing so many projects at once began to damage his health, and he collapsed at the age of 28. He recovered quickly, but he was forced to sell the Wayside Press. He later worked as a consultant for the American Type Founders and as an editor for Collier's Weekly
Collier's Weekly
Collier's Weekly was an American magazine founded by Peter Fenelon Collier and published from 1888 to 1957. With the passage of decades, the title was shortened to Collier's....
. He worked briefly with children’s books, then for William Randolph Hearst
William Randolph Hearst
William Randolph Hearst was an American business magnate and leading newspaper publisher. Hearst entered the publishing business in 1887, after taking control of The San Francisco Examiner from his father...
’s film division as a set designer. In 1954, Bradley published a memoir of his life, called Bradley: His Chap Book, though only 650 copies were ever published. The same year, he won the AIGA award, the highest honor for graphic designers. He was a prolific artist and designer up until his death at age 94.
Artistic style
His artistic style is considered a branch of Art NouveauArt Nouveau
Art Nouveau is an international philosophy and style of art, architecture and applied art—especially the decorative arts—that were most popular during 1890–1910. The name "Art Nouveau" is French for "new art"...
, (where he was considered the foremost illustrator and poster designer of this movement) though it draws heavily from the aesthetics of the Arts and Crafts Movement
Arts and Crafts movement
Arts and Crafts was an international design philosophy that originated in England and flourished between 1860 and 1910 , continuing its influence until the 1930s...
and Japanese block printing
Woodblock printing in Japan
Woodblock printing in Japan is a technique best known for its use in the ukiyo-e artistic genre; however, it was also used very widely for printing books in the same period. Woodblock printing had been used in China for centuries to print books, long before the advent of movable type, but was only...
. His work was often compared to that of his English contemporary, Aubrey Beardsley
Aubrey Beardsley
Aubrey Vincent Beardsley was an English illustrator and author. His drawings, done in black ink and influenced by the style of Japanese woodcuts, emphasized the grotesque, the decadent, and the erotic. He was a leading figure in the Aesthetic movement which also included Oscar Wilde and James A....
, so much so that some critics dismissed him as simply “The American Beardsley.” Bradley was already an established artist by the time Beardsley’s designs became popular in England in 1894.
Bradley's primary medium was poster
Poster
A poster is any piece of printed paper designed to be attached to a wall or vertical surface. Typically posters include both textual and graphic elements, although a poster may be either wholly graphical or wholly text. Posters are designed to be both eye-catching and informative. Posters may be...
s, at the time a developing art form. Poster art was pioneered at the turn of the century by French artists like Jules Chéret
Jules Chéret
Jules Chéret was a French painter and lithographer who became a master of Belle Époque poster art. He has been called the father of the modern poster. -Biography:...
and Toulouse-Lautrec, but Bradley is credited with popularizing the two-dimensional poster style in the United States.
Typefaces
Though Bradley, evidently, did not do the actual cutting of type matrixes, many types were based on his designs.- Bradley Type (1894, Central Type Foundry/ later ATFAmerican Type FoundersAmerican Type Founders was a business trust created in 1892 by the merger of 23 type foundries, representing about 85% of all type manufactured in the United States...
), cut by Herman Ihlenburg from Bradley's lettering for Inland Printer. Italic, Extended, and Outline versions of this face were cut by ATFAmerican Type FoundersAmerican Type Founders was a business trust created in 1892 by the merger of 23 type foundries, representing about 85% of all type manufactured in the United States...
, while knock-offs were marketed by Inland Type FoundryInland Type FoundryThe Inland Type Foundry was an American type foundry established in 1894 in Saint Louis, Missouri and later with branch offices in Chicago and New York City...
(as "St. John"), A.D. Farmer & Son (as "Abbey Text"), and the Dickinson Type Foundry (as "Bradley Series"). - Wayside Roman (1900, ATFAmerican Type FoundersAmerican Type Founders was a business trust created in 1892 by the merger of 23 type foundries, representing about 85% of all type manufactured in the United States...
) - Missal Initials (1904, ATFAmerican Type FoundersAmerican Type Founders was a business trust created in 1892 by the merger of 23 type foundries, representing about 85% of all type manufactured in the United States...
) - Bewick Roman (1905, ATFAmerican Type FoundersAmerican Type Founders was a business trust created in 1892 by the merger of 23 type foundries, representing about 85% of all type manufactured in the United States...
) - Vanity Initials (c. 1927, ATFAmerican Type FoundersAmerican Type Founders was a business trust created in 1892 by the merger of 23 type foundries, representing about 85% of all type manufactured in the United States...
)
Further reading
- Bambace, Anthony, A Biliographical Guide OakKnoll Press USA 1995 ISBN 978-18847 18-83
- Koch, Robert. (2002). Will H. Bradley: An American Artist in Print. Manchester, Vermont: Hudson Hills Press LLC. ISBN 1-55595-224-0.
- Johnson, Diane Chalmers. (1979). American Art Nouveau. New York: Harry N. Abrams. ISBN 0-8109-0678-3
- Wong, Roberta. (1972). Bradley: American Artist and Crafstman. New York
External links
- http://www.willbradley.com William Bradley website
- Publisher's Binding Online Detailed biography and a few images of William Bradley's work.