The Ault & Wiborg Co c. 1890 - 1920

This lithograph print, titled "The Ault & Wiborg Co" was made by Will Bradley in the early 20th century, probably as an advertisement. I love the flat, decorative quality of it. I’m imagining Bradley setting up his easel, or rather, his drawing board, carefully mixing inks to get just the right shade of red for those flowers, or the inky black for her dress. The image comes into being through layers of color—building up the pattern and design step by step. The flowers are like little explosions of color, and they remind me a bit of wallpaper, or maybe even a textile design. And then there's the woman herself, with her elegant pose and knowing smile. What was Bradley thinking when he made it? Was he trying to capture a certain mood, or simply create a visually striking image that would catch the eye? Whatever his intention, I love the way this print embraces ambiguity and uncertainty, allowing for multiple interpretations.