Field flowers by Eugene Field 1895

This is Will Bradley's poster for *Field Flowers*, an anthology by Eugene Field. The poster employs a striking contrast between the dark backdrop and the light figure of a girl, creating an immediate visual tension. The girl, framed by foliage, appears almost as a silhouette. The composition uses a limited color palette, emphasizing form and line over chromatic detail. Bradley's handling of the text, particularly the title, demonstrates a keen awareness of graphic structure, with its decorative, almost medieval lettering. The stark contrasts and stylized forms align with the aesthetic principles of the Art Nouveau movement, which sought to integrate art into everyday life through design. Bradley's use of simplified shapes and bold outlines challenges traditional representational norms, moving towards a more stylized and symbolic form. This aesthetic choice not only serves a decorative function but also invites the viewer to engage with the poster as an art object in its own right, reflective of broader shifts in artistic and philosophical concerns of the time.