alphonse
mucha

1860 – 1939

“The purpose of my work was never to destroy but always to create, to construct bridges, because we must live in the hope that humankind will draw together and that the better we understand each other the easier this will become.”

Bio

A Czech-born artist, Alphonse Mucha’s elegant, decorative style helped define the Art Nouveau movement. After early struggles and artistic training in Munich and Paris, he rose to fame in 1895 with a groundbreaking poster for actress Sarah Bernhardt’s Gismonda, launching a long collaboration and making his style instantly recognizable for its sinuous lines, natural motifs, and graceful female figures. Though widely associated with Art Nouveau, Mucha saw his work as a personal expression rooted in Czech nationalism and spiritual ideals. His success led to global recognition, numerous commissions, and published works like Documents Décoratifs. In the early 20th century, Mucha turned toward patriotic work, most notably The Slav Epic, a monumental cycle of 20 paintings chronicling Slavic history, completed over 18 years and gifted to Prague. His legacy lives on in major museum collections worldwide, including the Louvre and the Met.