ALPHONSE MUCHA

1860–1939

Alphonse Mucha was born in what is now the Czech Republic. Being artistic
from a young age, he moved to Paris after studying in Munich. To support
himself, he worked for a printing company. One day in 1894, he was in the right
place at the right time when he was the only artist in the office and was tasked
with creating a poster for Sarah Bernhardt, the most famous actress in Europe at
the time. Mucha’s poster (near right) depicts an image of Bernhardt in the role of
Gismonda. Bernhardt was so impressed by Mucha’s work and the success his
work brought her that she offered him a long-term contract. Mucha’s posters of
Bernhardt led to his great fame, and his unique artistic style triggered the Art
Nouveau movement. In addition to the Bernhardt posters, Mucha began to
receive a flood of other commissions, ranging from magazine ads to menus,
postcards, and calendars.