Alphonse Maria Mucha is a painter born in Moravia, currently the Czech
Republic, in 1860. His dream has been to be a painter since he was a child. In 1879, he
moved to Vienna to work in a theatrical design company, but following a fire he moved
back to the Czech Republic doing freelance and painting portraits. There, Count Karl
Khuen of Mikulov hired him to decorate his castle and was thoroughly impressed by
Mucha, leading him to sponsor Mucha’s art education at the Munich Academy of Fine
Arts and in Paris in 1887. Then he got his big break: he stopped in a print shop that was
in need of a poster for a play, Gismonda, and he volunteered himself. His poster then
became an overnight sensation. It was such a unique artistic style, that the very famous
actress that starred in that poster, Sarah Bernhardt, entered into a 6 year contract with
him. After that, he made many posters, paintings, advertisements, and book
illustrations, along with making designs for jewellery, carpets, wallpaper, and theater
sets. He started what was called the “Mucha style”, which is now referred to as the “Art
Nouveau” (“New Art” in French). After some time, he started more nationalistic art, like
creating stamps, making designs on money, designing the Czech Republic’s coat of
arms, and painting murals in mayor halls.
Alphonse Mucha made Le Pater and published it in 1900. Only 510 copies were
sold, but he claims he put his whole soul into making it. It is an occult examination of the
Lord’s prayer, a painting for each line of the Our Father. He considered it as his most
important work as it was truly spiritual compared to his commercial pieces. Today, those
copies are very limited and rare. The art is heart-moving, and the perspective he took
remains very interesting even today.
His unique style is neoclassical with tiny details, strong outlines, Roman robes,
flowers, and halos or crowns. His art seems to always include the subject of young
women and frames made of delicate detail. His palette is made of light and pastel
colors. His artwork has resurfaced many times throughout history, but even more
recently through current works. Many artists have been influenced and inspired by his
style, like manga artist Naoko Takeuchi (famously known for her Sailor Moon), Marvel’s
Editor in Chief Joe Quesada, and even famous bands’ album covers like Pink Floyd and
Sewn Mouth.
Alphonse Mucha’s art, whether commercial posters or sacred texts, gives us
something elegant and luminous. He didn’t just decorate the world; he made it newer,
one swirl at a time.