Description
This museum-documented 1900 William Bradley lithograph represents a pinnacle of Art Nouveau design scholarship—an original that appears in the definitive literature on Bradley’s industrial commissions and stands as one of the most carefully cataloged pieces in American printing history. Created for Ault & Wiborg Company’s celebrated advertising series, this design showcases Bradley’s mastery of the stylized human form set against dynamic, organic linework that evokes both movement and the flowing qualities of liquid ink itself.
The composition features a reclining figure rendered in Bradley’s signature sinuous Art Nouveau style, surrounded by rhythmic abstract forms and the company’s text identifying them as “Makers of Lithographic & Letter Press Printing Inks.” What distinguishes this particular original is its sophisticated brown-and-olive-green palette—what collectors describe as green-gold—a color combination that itself demonstrates the advanced pigmentation technology Ault & Wiborg had pioneered through their revolutionary coal-tar dyes and chemical innovations.
Bradley’s work for Ault & Wiborg between 1897 and 1900 represents one of the most important advertising art series ever created in America. This piece is documented in scholarly references, including Margolin (p. 45) and Virginia (p. 56), grounding it firmly in design history literature and elevating its status beyond commercial artifact to documented artistic achievement. Adding to its rarity and value, this composition exists in known color variations, making each documented version increasingly scarce as collections form around comprehensive documentation of the series.
The original measures 8.5″ x 12″ and is rendered as a fine lithograph in very fine condition. Archival linen backing and museum-quality acid-free matting (16″ x 20″) ensure preservation. For serious collectors of Art Nouveau, printing history, and documented design innovation, this Bradley original represents an investment-grade piece with scholarly provenance.
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