BEGGARSTAFF BROTHERS (JAMES PRYDE, 1869-1941 & WIILIAM NICHOLSON, 1872-1949) THE HOUR ILLUSTRATED. 1895. 29 1/4x19 7/8 inches. Condition B: restored losses in top margin; repaired tears and creases in margins and image; vertical and horizontal folds. Following in the Japanese-influenced footsteps of Toulouse-Lautrec, these two young brothers-in-law made tremendous strides in revolutionizing the graphic arts. In spite of the artistic and historical importance of their work, their careers were not easy and they constantly struggled with their clients. As a result, their production was very limited and the survival rate of their work even less! This two-color poster was designed as a stock poster in which the space along the left side of the image was left blank to be filled in with particulars by the magazine for each issue. Variations have surfaced without any text and would certainly exist with different text variations if the magazine hadn't been extremely short lived! Colin Campbell notes "here, we see the first consistent use of the 'lost outline' that became characteristic of later works" (Beggarstaff p. 40). This sophisticated graphic invention, which was a hallmark of their work, consists of characters created with a cut-out effect that appear against a background of flat colors. In spite of the historical importance of this poster, the progressive design was not in keeping with the gossipy, informal tone of the magazine. Beggarstaff 26, DFP-I 15.
