Description
This 1896 original William Bradley lithograph for Ault & Wiborg represents the designer at a pivotal moment—early in his signature collaborations with the Cincinnati ink innovator, already commanding the visual language that would define American Art Nouveau. The composition pairs two static figures with flowing ribbons that dissolve the boundary between figure and ornament, a hallmark of Bradley’s design philosophy that influenced the entire decorative movement.
What makes this example exceptional is its color variant. Ault & Wiborg printed multiple versions of Bradley’s designs to showcase ink performance across different palettes. This brown and olive iteration—with its sophisticated earth tones and subtle green-gold undertones—is more rarely encountered than its blue and brown counterpart. Both demonstrate the company’s mastery of non-bleeding, fast-drying lithographic inks at the turn of the century, but this rarer version captures Bradley’s tonal refinement with particular elegance.
The Wolfsonian-FIU Library collection includes this design, confirming its institutional significance. Professional conservation mounting, archival linen backing, and very fine condition ensure longevity for both display and collecting purposes. The work’s small format (8.5″ × 12″) makes it ideal for intimate gallery walls or as part of a focused Art Nouveau series.
Bradley’s collaboration with Ault & Wiborg spanned 1897–1900, yielding approximately 20 designs. This 1896 proof stands as an early milestone in that prolific partnership—a moment when printing ink companies still understood that superior color demonstration required superior artistry.
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