Czech-born Alphonse Mucha (1860-1939) was one of the most influential and celebrated artists in fin-de-siècle Paris, best known for his graphic work such as his theatre posters for the ‘super-star’ actress Sarah Bernhardt and his decorative panels featuring graceful women. Mucha created a distinctive style – le style Mucha – characterised by harmonious compositions, sinuous forms, organic lines and muted palette, which became synonymous with the newly emerging decorative style of the time – Art Nouveau.
Despite the powerful impact of Mucha’s style, however, his aesthetic ideas behind its development are less well known. The exhibition Alphonse Mucha: In Quest of Beauty draws on the latest research to examine the theoretical aspect of his work, especially the idea of beauty – the core principle of his art.
Showing some 80works selected from the collection of the Mucha Trust, the exhibition will feature Mucha’s iconic posters and his decorative works from his Paris period and also it will look at how the artist expressed his Czech nationalism with his artistic language after his return to his native Czech lands.
The exhibition will be arranged in three thematic sections. Women - Icons & Muses, Le Style Mucha’ – A Visual Language, Beauty – The Power Of Inspiration