Alphonse Mucha

1860 to 1939

Early Years• Born in the modern Czech Republic.• Started drawing at a young age. It was

not until after high school he started to peruse his art.

• He moved to Paris in 1887 where he studied at the Academy Julian.

• His patron who paid for his schooling stopped doing so after 2 years at the academy.

• Mucha was now 27 with no income or prospects.

• He went to work for a small art firm in Paris where he by luck got the opportunity to draw Sarah Bernhart.

Mucha• In 1895 he presented his new style to

the people of Paris. It was a poster created for Sarah Bernhart's play Gismonda. His poster and style ushered in the movement of Art Nouveau (New Art).

• Mucha became instantly famous due to this poster and his work was requested by companies, cities, restaurants, and even the Worlds Fair

in Chicago.

• Mucha became well know for his posters and beautiful artwork. He

became world famous for his work.

Alphonse Mucha

• His most compelling work was the Slav Epic, a series of paintings chronicling major events in the Slav Nation. It was originally supposed to take 6 years but instead took 18 years. The series contained 20 massive 24’x 30’ canvasses covering the history of the Slav nation form Pre-History to the 19th century. They were originally displayed in Prague but then they were sent to the US which they received a better reception.

• More Info: http://eeuropeanhistory.suite101.com/article.cfm/mucha_and_the_slav_epic

• http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,732109-2,00.html

Mucha • Mucha died on July 14 1939

shortly after the Gestapo interrogated him.

 • His style of art is still popular

and he was one of the first graphic artists along with Toulouse-Lautrec to make a good living off their artwork in the commercial arena.

• Art Nouvea was the art of

nature. It tried to break boundaries between the view and the art, as well as pull designs and inspiration of form form nature. The forms are fluid and involved curves and lots of motifs that are repeated to create beautiful patterns.

• Site: http://www.bpib.com/illustrat/mucha.htm

Mucha’s Slave Epic