Mucha

With his instantly recognizable decorative style, Czech artist and Art Nouveau master Alphonse Mucha (1860-1939) defined the look of the fin-de-sičcle. 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 Ĺ“uvre from patterned decoration to his book illustrations, posters, photographs and monumental paintings.

About the series

Born back in 1985, the Basic Art Series has evolved into the best-selling art book collection ever published. 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

Editorial Reviews

About the Author
Tomoko Sato studied History of Art and Architecture at the University of Reading, and Museology at the University of Manchester. Formerly Curator at the Barbican Art Gallery in London, she has been Curator of the Mucha Foundation since 2007. She has curated numerous exhibitions on Alphonse Mucha as well as on modern art, design, and photography.