Mucha

The creator of Art Nouveau's greatest beauties Alfons Mucha s is an art of seduction.His graceful women, delicate colors, and decorative style add up to an unashamed act of temptation. Mucha (1860-1939), whose work is indissolubly linked with the Art Nouveau style, was one of the most fascinating artistic personalities of the turn of the 20th century. He was not only a painter and graphic artist, but also took an interest in sculpture, jewelry, interior decorating, and utilitarian art. His particular talents, however, lay in decorative graphics, which was the basis of his fame and remains so today. This book traces all aspects of his career via biographical and descriptive texts and a wide selection of images. About the Series: 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 approximately 100 illustrations with explanatory captions "

With his instantly recognizable decorative style, Czech artist and Art Nouveau master Alphonse Mucha (1860–1939) defined the look of the fin-de-siècle. In evocative shades of peach, gold, ochre, and olive, his seductive compositions of patterns, flowers, and beautiful women became paradigms of the Belle Époque years. 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. Alongside this delicate decorative work, Mucha also harbored strongly felt political ideas . With 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. Compiled in association with the Mucha Foundation, this book presents key works and introduces the full reach of Mucha’s œuvre from patterned decoration to his book illustrations, posters, photographs and monumental paintings.

Der tschechische Jugendstilkünstler Alfons Mucha (1860-1939) prägte mit Kompositionen aus geschwungenen Linien und floralen Details das Erscheinungsbild des Fin de Siècle. Seine verführerischen Bilder schöner Frauen in sinnlichen Farbschattierungen von Pfirsich, Oliv, Ocker und Gold wurden zum Inbegriff der Belle Époque. Muchas Werk prägte die Illustrationen, Plakate, Postkarten und Werbeentwürfe seiner Zeit. Besonders seine hochformatigen Plakate der Schauspielikone Sarah Bernhardt erlangten Berühmtheit. Abseits dieser Arbeiten in dekorativem Stil verfolgte Mucha feste politische Ziele. Mit dem monumentalen Gemäldezyklus Das Slawische Epos formulierte er seine entschiedene Unterstützung des Panslawismus und warb für die politische Unabhängigkeit der Tschechen und aller anderen slawischen Völker von Österreich-Ungarn. Dieses Buch stellt - in Zusammenarbeit mit der Mucha Foundation - die Schlüsselwerke des Künstlers vor und präsentiert die gesamte Bandbreite seines OEuvre: vom dekorativen Ornament über Buchillustrationen, Plakate und Fotografien bis zu monumentalen Gemälden.

With his instantly recognizable decorative style, Czech artist and Art Nouveau master Alphonse Mucha (1860–1939) defined the look of the fin-de-siècle. In evocative shades of peach, gold, ochre, and olive, his seductive compositions of patterns, flowers, and beautiful women became paradigms of the Belle Époque years. 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. Alongside this delicate decorative work, Mucha also harbored strongly felt political ideas . With 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. Compiled in association with the Mucha Foundation, this book presents key works and introduces the full reach of Mucha’s œuvre from patterned decoration to his book illustrations, posters, photographs and monumental paintings.