Edward Penfield, born Brooklyn, NY - Merry Xmas, 1921 - 1921 - T-Shirt

A tabby cat rests in profile beneath a bold holiday greeting, rendered as a woodcut relief print in the Arts and Crafts manner.

Visual Elements & Composition

Dark olive-black carries the design, covering nearly half of the image and outlining every form. Cream and golden ochre fill the open areas and give the greeting its warmth, while burnt orange and a small touch of teal appear as accents. The cat lies horizontally across a rectangular panel, and its teal collar is the one cool note in an otherwise warm palette. The lettering reads MERRY XMAS 1921, with EDWARD PENFIELD and PELHAM MANOR N.Y. set into the composition as the artist's mark.

Meaning & Symbolism

Edward Penfield, born in Brooklyn in 1866, was a central figure in American illustration, known for his work with Harper's Magazine and his mastery of the poster style. This holiday piece reflects his refined, economical line. Made in 1921, it belongs to the years of post-World War I recovery, when seasonal greetings reinforced community, family and goodwill. The cat, set calmly at the hearth of the page, stands for domestic comfort and the quiet side of the holiday season.

On the Unisex Heavy Cotton Tee

A woodcut relies on strong contrast and clean, deliberate shapes, and those qualities carry well across the chest of a tee. The reclining cat sits comfortably within a single open panel, so the image reads at a glance and rewards a closer look. Its striped, horizontal rhythm suits a garment worn with the body in motion, and the greeting stays legible from across a room.