The Hilltop (circa 1912) Art Print | Ernest Haskell

Ernest Haskell was a versatile American artist, illustrator, and printmaker best known for his etchings, portraiture, and early contributions to poster art. A pioneer in both commercial and fine art, Haskell blended technical mastery with a dramatic, expressive style that captured the spirit of turn-of-the-century America.

Born in Connecticut, Haskell studied art in New York and later in Paris, where he absorbed influences from European masters and the Art Nouveau movement. Upon returning to the United States, he gained early fame as a poster artist, creating bold, elegant designs for theaters, concerts, and publications — a visual language that helped define early 20th-century American graphic art.

Haskell was also a skilled etcher and portraitist, admired for his detailed, psychologically nuanced depictions of subjects ranging from actors and musicians to literary figures. His etchings, in particular, revealed a deep sensitivity to light, texture, and line, often drawing comparisons to Whistler.

A restless experimenter, Haskell moved fluidly between commercial illustration, advertising, and fine art. He maintained studios in New York and later in Maine, where the rugged landscapes inspired a more introspective side to his work.

Tragically, Haskell died in a car accident in 1925, cutting short a career of immense promise. Today, his work stands as a testament to the power of artistry across disciplines — bridging the decorative and the expressive, the public and the personal, in a uniquely American voice.