Alfons Maria Mucha, known internationally as Alphonse Mucha, was a Czech painter, illustrator, and graphic artist. Living in Paris during the Art Nouveau period, he was widely known for his distinctly stylized and decorative theatrical posters, particularly those of Sarah Bernhardt. He produced illustrations, advertisements, decorative panels, as well as designs, which became among the best-known images of the period.
Mucha in his studio (c. 1899)
Portrait of Saints Cyril and Methodius for the Roman Catholic church in Pisek, North Dakota (1887)
Poster of Sarah Bernhardt as Gismonda (1895)
La Dame aux Camélias (1896)
Art Nouveau is an international style of art, architecture, and applied art, especially the decorative arts. It was often inspired by natural forms such as the sinuous curves of plants and flowers. Other characteristics of Art Nouveau were a sense of dynamism and movement, often given by asymmetry or whiplash lines, and the use of modern materials, particularly iron, glass, ceramics and later concrete, to create unusual forms and larger open spaces. It was popular between 1890 and 1910 during the Belle Époque period, and was a reaction against the academicism, eclecticism and historicism of 19th century architecture and decorative art.
Image: Abbesses
Image: Otto Eckmann Jugend Nr. 14, 1896
Image: Louis comfort tiffany, lampada da tavolo pomb lily, 1900 10 ca
Image: Louis Majorelle Wall Cabinet Walters 6587