By Tomoko Sato
Czech artist and Art Nouveau master Alphonse Mucha (1860–1939) defined the look of the fin-de-siècle, with his instantly recognizable decorative style in seductive compositions of patterns, flowers, and beautiful women in evocative shades of peach, gold, ochre, and olive.
Mucha’s work permeated illustration, posters, postcards, and the advertising designs of his day. His striking posters of star actress Sarah Bernhardt were particularly famous. Mucha also harbored strongly felt political ideas. In his monumental cycle, The Slav Epic, he expressed his staunch support for Pan-Slavism, promoting the political independence of the Czech and Slavic nations from the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
This book, compiled in association with the Mucha Foundation, presents key works and introduces the full reach of Mucha's oeuvre from patterned decoration to his book illustrations, photographs, posters and monumental paintings.
Each book in Taschen’s Basic Art series features a detailed chronological summary of the life and oeuvre of the artist, covering his or her cultural and historical importance, a concise biography, and approximately 100 illustrations with explanatory captions.
Hardcover with jacket, 96 pages
Dimensions: 8.5 x 10.5 x 0.5 inches
“Exterior form is a language.” — Alphonse Mucha
Monaco, Monte Carlo, 1897, a lithograph printed in color, by Alphonse Mucha, is part of the Detroit Institute of Arts' Prints, Drawings & Photographs Collection.
