Harper’s Nov’B’R 1898

Edward Penfield created this lithographic poster for Harper's Magazine likely around 1890s, a period when magazines played a crucial role in shaping public opinion and cultural trends in America. The poster depicts a scene of upper-class leisure: a horse-drawn carriage, a well-dressed driver, and two women in fashionable attire. Note the visual codes of wealth and status, from the horse's polished harness to the women's elegant dresses. This imagery speaks to Harper's target audience—an educated, affluent readership. Harper's Magazine, like other magazines of the time, served as a cultural institution, shaping tastes and promoting certain social values. By examining the magazine's content, readership, and advertising, we can gain insights into the social and cultural landscape of the late 19th century. The historian considers these social and institutional contexts to interpret the deeper meaning of this artwork.