Alphonse Mucha

Alphonse Mucha, was well-known for his gorgeous artistic renditions of Art Nouveau women. Mucha is a prolific Czech painter and illustrator. His graphic artworks are well known and highly desireable to this day. Mucha is most well known for his stunning depiction of women. He utilizes their beauty to artfully advertise the works he is commissioned. Alpohnse Mucha would fill the frame with woman who often had long, flowy hair and delicate, intricate ornamental design. He would often have an arabesque element to his artwork, while also utilizing delicate, floral scripts.

In the 1890’s, a cigarette papers manufacturer called the Joseph Bardou Company (known as JOB) commissioned Mucha to design advertising posters for the brand. He drew the inspiration for the JOB Rolling Papers woman from the Sibyls (originally drawn by Michaelangelo for the Sistine Chapel). In ancient Greece, a Sibyl was prophetess who would prophesy at holy sites, influenced by a deity. The  arabesque design in this artwork is quite stunning.

Alphonse Mucha’s work is notable and eye catching, you cannot study the art nouveau movement without being aware of his work, as he was one of the leading art nouveau artists of the time. His work was reproduced on many illustrations, paintings, postcards, advertisements and designs. He designed advertising posters for Ruinart Champagne, Nestlé baby food, the Beers of the Meuse, Moët-Chandon champagne, Idéal Chocolate, Lefèvre-Utile biscuits, Trappestine brandy, Waverly and Perfect bicycles, and JOB cigarette papers.

The famed French stage actress Sarah Bernhardt commissioned him for several posters advertising the various plays she was in over the span of six years, the first being for the play Gismonda. Sarah Bernhardt was an astute businesswoman who would sell several of these posters from the plays to collectors.

These are some of his most famous works:

• The Seasons – Alphonse Mucha, 1896

• Reverie – for Champenois – Alphonse Mucha, 1897

• The Flowers / The Arts – Alphonse Mucha, 1898

• The Times of Day – Alphonse Mucha, 1899

• Precious Stones – Alphonse Mucha, 1900

• The Moon and the Stars – Alphonse Mucha, 1902