Maxfield Parrish Daybreak (Original Print, Large Format, Framed)

America's Most Popular Art Print

Maxfield Parrish's "Daybreak" (1922) holds the distinction of being the most widely reproduced art print in American history. At its peak popularity in the 1920s and 1930s, it was estimated that one in four American households displayed a copy. The image of two figures in a luminous, idealized landscape, bathed in Parrish's signature blue and gold palette, became one of the defining visual artifacts of early 20th century American culture.

An original period print in large format (the "house" or "Edison Mazda" size, typically 18x30 inches or larger), properly framed, represents the most desirable collectible form of this work. While millions of smaller reproductions were produced, the large format prints were premium items even in their own era.

The Artist

Maxfield Parrish (1870-1966) was one of the most commercially successful American artists of the 20th century. Born Frederick Parrish in Philadelphia, he adopted the name Maxfield from his paternal grandmother. He studied at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts under Thomas Anshutz and at Drexel Institute under Howard Pyle.

Parrish developed a distinctive technique that involved applying thin, transparent glazes of oil color over opaque bases, creating luminous effects that were unlike anything his contemporaries produced. His paintings seem to glow from within, a quality that reproduced surprisingly well in the printing technology of the era.

His career spanned commercial illustration, magazine covers (Life, Collier's, Harper's), book illustration, mural painting, and fine art. But it was his relationship with the House of Art, a New York print publisher, that made him a household name. Through their distribution, Parrish's images reached millions of American homes.

Daybreak: The Painting

Painted in 1922, "Daybreak" depicts two female figures in a classical landscape setting. One figure reclines while the other kneels beside her, both positioned against a backdrop of colonnades and a luminous mountain landscape bathed in the warm light of dawn. The composition draws on classical themes while Parrish's color palette transforms the scene into something otherworldly.

The original painting was commissioned by the House of Art specifically for reproduction as an art print. This commercial origin distinguishes Parrish's work from traditional fine art, though the quality of execution is unmistakably that of a master painter. The original painting sold at auction in 2006 for $7.6 million, confirming its status as a significant American artwork.

Identifying Original Period Prints

Distinguishing genuine 1920s-1930s period prints from later reproductions is essential for collectors:

Indicators of Original Period Prints

• Paper: Heavy stock with a characteristic aging pattern (slight yellowing or toning at edges)

• Printing process: Period prints used lithographic or high-quality halftone processes that produce a distinctive dot pattern visible under magnification

• Size: Large format originals are typically 18x30 inches (image area), 24x36 inches or similar with margins

• Publisher credit: "The House of Art, New York" or similar period publisher markings, often on the reverse or lower margin

• Color quality: Original prints have a richness and depth that later mass reproductions typically cannot match

• Age-appropriate condition: Some degree of aging is expected and actually helps confirm authenticity

Warning Signs of Later Reproductions

• Modern paper stock without aging characteristics

• Digital printing patterns (visible under magnification)

• Unnaturally bright colors without the patina of age

• Missing publisher credits or modern publisher information

• Paper that fluoresces under UV light (modern optical brighteners)

Condition and Value Guide

Current Market Values (Original 1920s-1930s Period Prints)

• Excellent (vivid colors, clean paper, no foxing or staining, period frame): $2,000 to $5,000

• Very Good (good color, minimal foxing, minor edge wear, original or period frame): $1,000 to $2,500

• Good (some fading, light foxing, minor water staining at edges, frame may need restoration): $500 to $1,200

• Fair (noticeable fading, foxing throughout, water damage, torn or damaged paper): $150 to $500

Frame Value Period frames in good condition add $100-$500 to the overall value. Original "Daybreak" frames from the 1920s typically featured simple but elegant profiles in gold or dark wood tones.

For Comparison: Later Reproductions

• 1960s-1970s reprints: $50 to $200

• Modern museum shop reproductions: $20 to $75

• Digital reproductions/posters: $5 to $30

The Parrish Blue

Parrish's distinctive blue color became so associated with his work that "Parrish Blue" entered the cultural lexicon. This particular shade, somewhere between cobalt and cerulean with an almost electric luminosity, was achieved through Parrish's glazing technique. In "Daybreak," this blue appears in the sky and mountains, creating a backdrop of almost supernatural beauty.

The ability of period printing technology to capture this blue is one reason original prints are so valued. Later reproductions often fail to match the exact tonal quality, resulting in blues that are either too flat or too saturated.

Market Context

Maxfield Parrish prints experienced a major revival in the 1960s and 1970s, when the psychedelic art movement discovered his luminous color palette. This revival brought renewed attention to original period prints and established a collector market that has continued to grow.

Today, Parrish's work sits at the intersection of several collecting categories:

• American illustration art

• Art Deco and Art Nouveau decorative arts

• Americana and cultural artifacts

• Print collecting

Storage and Display

• Display away from direct sunlight, which will fade pigments over time

• Use UV-filtering glass in framing to slow light damage

• Maintain stable temperature and humidity

• If storing unframed, keep flat in acid-free tissue and portfolio

• Professional conservation can address foxing, water staining, and other condition issues

Final Thoughts

A large format original "Daybreak" print represents a tangible piece of American cultural history. At a time when art reproductions were the primary way most Americans encountered fine art, Maxfield Parrish's luminous vision decorated more homes than any other artist's work. Owning an original period print connects you to that moment when art and commerce combined to create something genuinely beautiful and widely beloved.

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