Czech artist Alfons Mucha and his paintings. Alfons Mucha and his women Czech painter Mucha paintings
I continue the theme of the great Czech artist - ALFONSE MARIA MUHA
.
This is the third post dedicated to the life and work of the artist. I do not like to make links to myself in my posts, so anyone who is interested can find previous posts by tag "A. Fly".
With respect to my readers, Sergey Vorobyov.
Be it posters, calendars, labels, packaging, menu cards, postcards or invitation cards- very soon after the start of cooperation with Sarah Bernhardt "Fly style"
penetrates everywhere.
While Sarah Bernhardt leads trial Due to the illegal sale of posters of "Gismonde", the printing house of Ferdinand Champenois, in accordance with all the rules of printing, begins to turn Mucha's works into hard currency. This time, an exclusive contract is concluded with the artist with an astronomical amount of the fee - we are talking about about 4,000 francs a month, which should pay off for both parties, even though Mucha later often complains about the overwhelming amount of work assigned to him by Champenois.
In 1896, the first cycle of decorative panels "FOUR SEASONS" appears.
Through the year with Alphonse Mucha.
From left to right: Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter
Taking into account all the options for everything, almost fifty series on this topic will be created, of which "Four Arts", "Four Times of the Day", "Moon and Stars", "Four Precious Stones" and "Four Flowers" are still among the most popular works Alphonse Mucha.
These panels have an elongated shape - they are narrow and high; they are printed both in cheap versions and in expensive ones using the last word printing technology. They are conceived as wall decorations, as mass art for everyone, which "would look great in the hallway and on the stairwell," as one of the art critics writes, quite favorably.
Champenois and his artist hit the nerve. Just a year earlier, art dealer Samuel Bing had founded a salon in Paris. "Art Nouveau" . So far, an artistic movement with such a name does not yet exist, however, the stream of works of this style, growing every day, which has become known under various names in different countries (in Russia - modern), begins to undermine the strict etiquette of the salon and monumental art. Art goes into mass production, Belle Époque - Belle Epoque - creates the largest gallery in history, consisting of a wide variety of household items.
"FOUR ARTS" (1898)
Growing hair and dancing leaves
in the transparency of the morning light,
conveying a playful ease of movement
in the panel
"Dance"
Early twilight in the panel "Poetry"
Lunar Evening Intimacy and Listening Gesture
in the panel "Music"
The joy of daylight
in the panel "Painting"
Here Alphonse Mucha finds a fruitful field of activity: "I was glad that I did not make art for closed salons, but could make art for the people. It was cheap, everyone could buy it for themselves, and it fell into both the families of the haves and the families of the poor."
Panel Flies are in great demand. Champanois additionally prints about 150 motifs on postcards, introduced in France as a means of correspondence in 1873, and these openly spread the "style of Mucha" around the world.
One of the most popular cycles by Alphonse Mucha is
"FOUR HOURS OF THE DAY" (1899).
From left to right: "Morning Awakening", "Daytime Affairs",
"Evening Dreams" and "Night Calm"
"MOON AND STARS" (1902)
"FOUR PRECIOUS STONES" (1900)
"FOUR FLOWERS"
Alfons Maria Mucha (1860-1939) - an outstanding Czech artist, master of theater and advertising posters, illustrator, jewelry designer. One of the brightest representatives modern style. In our country, the name of the artist Alphonse Mucha is little known. Meanwhile, it became literally a symbol of painting at the end of the "golden" - the beginning of the "silver" centuries ... His style (in painting, architecture, small decorative forms) was called (and is still called) - "Fly's style". Or - "modern", "art nouveau", "secession". The name comes from France. Yes, and the artist himself in Europe is sometimes considered a Frenchman. But it's not. On the left is a self-portrait of the artist.Maxim Mrvitsa - Claudine
Spring |
Winter |
Yaroslav, 1925
The boy drew well from childhood and tried to enter the Prague Academy of Arts, but to no avail. After high school, he worked as a clerk until he found a job as an assistant decorator at the Vienna Ring Theater and moved to the capital of Austria-Hungary. In Vienna, in the evenings, he attended drawing courses and made the first illustrations for folk songs. After the theater burned down, Alphonse was forced to move to Czech city Mikulov, where he painted portraits of local nobles.
There he met Count Khuen von Belassi, a man who played a very important role in his life. Mucha was engaged in decorating the count's castle, and the aristocrat was fascinated by his work. As a result, Kuen-Belasi became a patron of the young artist. He paid Alfons two years of study at the Munich Academy fine arts.
Girl in Czech costume
In 1888, Mucha moved to Paris and continued his education there. Many at that time aspired to the capital of France - after all, then it was the center of new art: Eiffel had already constructed a three-hundred-meter tower, the World Exhibitions were noisy, and the artists broke the canons and promoted freedom. However, the count's financial affairs deteriorated, and Mucha was left without a livelihood. He for a long time interrupted by small orders, until Sarah Bernhardt (1844-1923), a brilliant French actress. Perhaps Fly would have succeeded without her, but who knows ...
Portrait of Milada Cerny
In 1893, before Christmas, Mucha received an order to create a poster for the play "Gismonda" at the Renaissance Theater, which was owned by Sarah Bernhardt. The artist depicted the prima playing in the play leading role, on an unusually shaped poster - long and narrow. This emphasized her regal posture, the actress Mukha decorated her loose hair with a wreath of flowers, put a palm branch in her thin hand, and gave her eyes languor, creating a general mood of tenderness and bliss.
No one had done anything like this before Mukha. Before Gismonda, Sarah Bernhardt had only one noteworthy poster, made by the Swiss decorator Grasset - "Jeanne d'Arc". But the Gismond poster was much more interesting. To get it, collectors bribed posters or cut Gismonda off fences at night.
Flowers, 1897 |
Fruit, 1897 |
It is not surprising that the actress wished to meet the author and signed a cooperation contract with him. Bernard Alphonse worked at the theater for six years. "The Lady of the Camellias", "Medea", "The Samaritan Woman", "Lorenzachio" - all these posters depicting Bernard were as popular as "Gismonde". He made sketches theatrical costumes and scenery, designed the stage and even participated in directing.
IN late XIX century the theater was the center secular life, they talked and argued about him in the salons, in the theater the ladies demonstrated new toilets and jewelry, and the men showed the ladies - in general, the theater was food for inspiration and gossip. And, of course, Sarah Bernard, and especially her personal life, has always been the object of attention of journalists and the public. There were plenty of reasons. Bernard inspired poets and writers, blue-blooded men fell in love with her.
Oscar Wilde poetically called her "a beautiful creature with the voice of singing stars." Victor Hugo presented Bernard with a diamond, symbolizing a tear that he could not hold back during a performance with her participation. The actress loved to play along with the audience. So, she allegedly did not know who was the father of her only son, and, to the indignation of respectable ladies, she called him "the fruit of a wonderful misunderstanding."
Heraldic chivalry
During the six-year collaboration between the actress and Alphonse, warm friendly relations arose, as evidenced by their correspondence. And love? Did Muhu bewitch Sarah Bernard in the same way as the galaxy of many other men? “Madam Sarah Bernhardt, as it were, was created to portray greatness dejected by grief. All her movements are full of nobility and harmony,” critics wrote. Of course, the reporters did not pass over in silence the relationship of the actress with the Czech artist, especially since his name was speaking in its own way: the same name was given to the comedy character Dumas the son “Monsieur Alphonse”, who lives off his mistresses.
spring night
Indeed, after the conclusion of a contract with Bernard, orders poured into Mukha, he acquired a spacious workshop, became a welcome guest in high society, where he often appeared in an embroidered Slavophile kosovorotka, belted with a sash. He also had the opportunity to arrange solo exhibitions. Some even recommended that he change his name or sign with his godfather name - Maria.
Poetry, 1898 |
Music, 1898 |
However, Mucha was not Alphonse in the sense that Dumas put into this name. In his correspondence with Bernard there is not even a hint of what was gossip about in high society. Rather, it was patronage, in some ways, perhaps, akin to the patronage of an older sister.
Dear Fly, Bernard wrote to the artist in 1897, ask me to introduce you to society. Listen, dear friend, to my advice: exhibit your work. I will put in a good word for you... The subtlety of the line, the originality of the composition, the amazing coloring of your paintings will enchant the public, and after the exhibition I portend glory to you. I clasp both your hands in mine, my dear Fly. Sara Bernard.
Girl with flowing hair and tulips, 1920
In the year they met, Sarah was fifty, and Mukha was thirty-four. Mucha wrote that, of course, Bernard is beautiful, but "on stage, with artificial lighting and careful make-up." Mucha admired Bernard as an actress even when she was in her sixties. In those years, Mucha lived in the USA, and Sarah Bernhardt came to this country on tour. They met more than once, and Mucha certainly wrote about these meetings to his fiancee Marie Chytilova (Marie Chytilová), assuring that between him and Bernard there were always only friendly relations.
Woman with a burning candle, 1933
Maria Khitilova was Mukha's model for a long time. Her features are easily guessed in many of the artist's paintings. There are much more reasons to trust Mukha than newspaper gossip - Fly was too noble to deceive his bride. However, Mucha was not even that chaste ascetic, as Jiri Mukha, the artist's son, presented him in his book. Jiri claimed that before meeting his mother, Alphonse allegedly did not know women. But it's not. For example, Mucha lived for seven whole years with the Frenchwoman Bertha de Lalande.
Salome
The artist met Khitilova only in 1903 - Maria Khitilova herself arranged their meeting. She was Czech, graduated from a secondary art school in Prague, and at the age of twenty-one she left for Paris. For shelter and board, she lived in a French family, helped with the housework and took care of the children. For the first time, Maria saw Mukha in Prague National theater and girlishly fell in love, although she was fit for the master as a daughter - she was twenty-two years younger than him. The girl asked her uncle, an art historian, to recommend her to Mukha as a compatriot and aspiring artist. To the recommendation, she attached her letter with a request to receive her on the day and hour when it would be convenient for Alphonse. And Mucha invited Maria to his studio ...
Day rush, 1899 |
Morning awakening, 1899 |
Carnation, 1898
Lily, 1898
And soon he began to call her Marushka and write tender letters: My angel, how grateful I am to you for your letter ... Spring has come to my soul, flowers have blossomed ... I am so happy that I am ready to burst into tears, sing, embrace the world.
In his letters, Mukha confessed to Marushka that he had been in love with her only once, at the age of sixteen. That girl was fifteen, apparently, it was her name Yaroslava. She died - tuberculosis claimed many lives at the end of the nineteenth century. Her death for the subtle and sensitive nature of Mucha was a tragedy. Since then, Mucha, as he himself writes, turned all his ardent love to the homeland and our people. I love them as my beloved ... Alphonse called everyone who was with him before Khitilova "foreign women", who only brought him torment. And he so dreamed "all the years of exile about the Czech heart, about the Czech girl."
Red cloak, 1902
By the time she met Maria Mukha, the series “Flowers”, “Seasons”, “Art”, “Time of Day”, “ Gems”, “Moon and Stars” and other interesting lithographs that were reprinted in the form postcards, playing cards and dispersed instantly - they all portrayed women. Mucha worked a lot with the models he invited to his studio, drawing and photographing them in luxurious draperies or naked. He provided photographs of models with comments - “ beautiful hands”, “beautiful hips”, “beautiful profile” ... and then from the selected “parts” he put together the perfect picture. Often, while drawing, Mucha covered the faces of the models with a handkerchief so that their imperfection would not destroy the ideal image he had invented.
Yaroslava and Jiri - the artist's children
But after marrying Marushka in 1906, the artist painted less and less of the demigods familiar to the viewer - apparently, a real woman replaced a mirage and a memory. Mucha and his family moved to Prague, where he began to create the "Slavic Epic", developed a sketch of the stained-glass window of St. Vitus Cathedral and painted many portraits of his wife, daughter Yaroslava, son of Jiri. Mucha died in 1939 of pneumonia. The cause of the illness was the arrest and interrogations in the Czech capital occupied by the Germans: the painter's Slavophilism was so well known that he was even included in the name lists of the enemies of the Reich.
Madonna with Lilies, 1905
Marushka remained with her husband until his last breath. She survived her husband by twenty years, tried to write memoirs about him. The love that was between Mucha and Khitilova is called in Czech "láska jako trám" - that is, very strong feeling, literal translation: "love is like a beam."
From a letter from Mukha: How wonderful and gratifying it is to live for someone, before you I had only one shrine - our homeland, and now I have set up an altar for you, dear, I pray for both of you ...
Are men of the twenty-first century capable of such words? ..
Around the world
Amethyst, 1900 |
Rubin, 1900 |
Portrait of Yaroslava (the artist's daughter), 1930
Prophetess, 1896
spirit of spring
Supper of dreams - Night sleep, 1898
Ivy, 1901
Fate, 1920
Zdenka Cerny, 1913
Portrait of a woman |
Portrait of Madame Mucha |
Portrait of his wife, Maruška, 1908
Gold plated bracelet
Seasons, 1898
Byzantine head. Blonde, 1897
morning dawn
Byzantine head. Brunette, 1897
Slavs in their own land. 1912
Introduction to the Slavic liturgy. Fragment. 1912
The work of the Polish artist of the first half of the twentieth century, unfortunately, is little known in our time. Although the originality and originality of his talent found many fans around the world. No one will remain indifferent, admiring the series of paintings "Flowers", "Seasons", "Slavic Maidens", "Months", in which the artist sings of female beauty, the beauty of nature and acts as a connoisseur folk traditions and rites.
Biography of Alphonse Mucha
Alfons was born in Moravia in the small provincial town of Ivančice in 1860. It was the end of the 19th century that left an imprint on all his work, even in the middle of the 20th century he did not lose his poetry and dreaminess, trying in turbulent turbulent times to reflect the soul of the people in his works.
His father Onjej, a tailor by trade, poor man left a widower with several children and entered into a second marriage (most likely of convenience) with the daughter of a wealthy miller, Amalia, who later became the mother of a famous artist.
Amalia died early, but Onjej was the best of fathers for his large family and all his children, even girls, which was surprising at that time, received a secondary education.
Alfons studied at the Slavic Gymnasium in the small Polish city of Brno until the age of 17, and then his father managed to get the young man into the Academy of Arts in Prague. So Alphonse became a student, but I must say that he is far from the best of students. He godlessly skipped classes, including the law of God, which was considered unacceptable, and received excellent marks only in drawing and singing.
The student was soon expelled from the Academy due to "any lack of talent for art" and becomes a clerk in the Ivanichitsa city court. Two years later, having accidentally stumbled upon an advertisement for a job as a decorator in a Viennese company that produces theatrical props, he gets a job there as a set designer. But in 1881, the company went bankrupt, and Alphonse was again out of work.
Thanks to the troubles of his father, he moves to the southern city of Mikulov, where he does what he has to do: he paints a little theatrical scenery, does miniatures, portraits, posters, and sometimes, for lack of other work, paints.
And here the artist was lucky: he was asked to paint the castle of the Hrushovan Count Kuen, where he painted the ceilings in the then accepted style of the Italian Renaissance. After that, he was sent to the brother of the count in the castle of Gandegg in distant Tyrol. Here he not only painted the rooms, but also painted a portrait of the countess and the whole family. IN free time, which fell out infrequently, the artist managed to get out into nature, where he eagerly painted from nature.
The Viennese professor of painting Kray comes to visit the count, he became interested in the works of the young artist and convinces him to continue his education. The contented count acts as a patron of Alphonse and sends him to the Academy of Art in Munich at his own expense. So, in 1885 the artist continued his professional education. Two years later, he transferred to the Academy of Arts in Paris, and immediately into the third year.
This best time in his studies, but it soon ends: the count stopped paying scholarships, and the young man had to rely only on his own strength. In some memoirs, Alphonse Mucha hints at periods of hardship and hardship, but already in 1991 he establishes strong ties with the publisher Armand Collin, and also writes posters for performances with Sarah Bernhardt. The great actress liked the work of the young artist so much that she signed a six-year contract with him for all new works.
Thus, Alphonse enters a period of prosperity and fame: exhibitions of his works are held with great excitement in many major European cities, and changeable Fortune finally knocked on the artist's door.
Slavic Epic
Today it is believed that it is the works of this cycle that are the artist's most valuable investment in the treasury of world art. Much later, in the "Paris period", Alphonse Mucha revived and multiplied his successful finds and gave us new creations.
Love for the Motherland, its nature, its history and its traditions is an integral part of the work of a true artist. Therefore, already being a mature artist, Alphonse Mucha plans to create a series of paintings dedicated to the history of the Slavs. This idea was not born at one moment, he nurtured it for a long time, traveling through the Slavic countries, including Russia. Work on the epic, which brought the artist worldwide fame, lasted 20 years, and twenty huge canvases were written, displaying the climaxes of history.
All the works of the artist are extremely optimistic - they carry a huge charge of faith in their country and its people. He brought the entire collection of paintings as a gift to his beloved city of Prague. In 1963, after the death of the artist, the public got access to the entire collection of paintings and to this day admire the amazing gift of the true patriot Alphonse Mucha.
Love in the life of an artist
It is in Paris that Mucha meets his love, his muse - a Czech girl Maria Khitilova. In 1906, they marry, although Maria is twenty years younger than Alphonse, but she sincerely loves him and admires his work.
For Alphonse, this young girl became, as he himself said, the second love after the Motherland. Together with her, he moves to live in America, with which he signed lucrative contracts for a series of works. The artist's children are born here, but his dreams of a distant homeland never leave him, and in 1910 the Alfons family returned to Moravia.
The last period of creativity
In 1928, after finishing work on the Slavic Epic, Mucha worked on the creation of official banknotes of independent Czechoslovakia and a collection of stamps. Throughout his life, the artist did not get tired of learning new things, looking for himself and striving for self-expression, all his undertakings were “doomed to success”, thanks to his original talent and tireless work.
With the coming to power of the Nazis and the promotion of racist theories, interest in Mucha's work is falling. He is declared a pan-Slav, his patriotism goes against the propaganda of racism, and paintings that glorify beauty native nature, do not fit into the propaganda of violence and cruelty.
The artist was declared an enemy of the Third Reich and imprisoned. Although he was soon released, his health was undermined, and in 1939 Alphonse Mucha died. Before his death, the artist managed to publish his memoirs, and according to his will he was buried in the Czech Republic at the Visegrad cemetery.
unfairly forgotten
The only museum of Alfons Mucha is open in Prague. On the initiative of his children and grandchildren, it was opened in 1998. It is here that you can see the poster for the play Gismonda, which changed the life of the master. The museum contains exhibits that accompany the life of the artist and highlight his work.
Many items exhibited here were donated to the museum by the artist's family; from them you can learn about his personal life and character, habits and relationships in the family.
Alphonse Maria Mucha(1860-1939) - Czech graphic artist, painter, virtuoso of arts and crafts. His name is associated with the emergence of a new style in art, which originated at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. IN European art this style was called Art Nouveau or Art Nouveau.
A distinctive feature of works in the Art Nouveau style was the rejection of straight lines in favor of natural natural curves. Alphonse Mucha was a recognized master of new refined forms. His multifaceted talent influenced many European architects, artists, and graphic artists.
Biography of Alphonse Mucha
On July 24, 1860, near Brno, in the old small Moravian town of Ivancice, Alfons Maria Mucha was born. The boy early began to get involved in singing and painting.
After graduating from high school, his father sent his work to art school in Prague with a request for enrollment. But in response, the professors said that the author of the works did not have enough talent.
After such a failure, the young man had to work as a clerk in a local court. But this did not stop Alphonse from inventing scenery, drawing posters and tickets for the local theater. In many ways, this period of life determined the nature of his future work.
Two years later, in 1789, following an advertisement in a Viennese newspaper, Alphonse Mucha got a job in the workshop " Kautsky-Brioche-Burkhart”, which was engaged in the manufacture of various theatrical fittings.
In 1881, the workshop was completely destroyed in a fire, and the artist was forced to leave for the small Czech town of Mikulov. Here he had to deal with the design of the family castle of the local count Kuen Belasi.
The work of Alphonse made a great impression on the count, who offered the young artist help and became his patron. In 1885 Alphonse entered the third year of the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich. After studying for two years, the artist decided to complete his art education in Paris.
Alphonse Mucha was accepted into one of the most famous art schools France - Julien Academy and then in Academy of Colarossi. However, in 1889 he was deprived of the financial assistance of Count Kuena-Belassi and worked as a simple designer, newspaper illustrator.
In 1894, the artist received an order from the theater " Renaissance". A poster was required for the premiere of the play "Gismonda" with a brilliant Sarah Bernard. Choosing to work with an elongated horizontal format, adding colors and small parts, the artist changed the still existing principle of compiling posters.
Work for Sarah Bernhardt unknown artist made a huge impression. The great actress wanted to meet him. As a result of cooperation, the following works were created: “ lady with camellias», « Medea», « Samaritan», « Yearning», « Hamlet»
For six years after this happy meeting, Alphonse Mucha, as the chief decorator of the Renaissance Theater, drew posters, created decorations, and designed costumes and scenery for these performances.
During this period of creativity, the artist develops his characteristic recognizable style.
The semantic center of the horizontally elongated panel is the image of a mysterious stranger with a captivating smile on her lips, framed by an intricate ornament made up of fragments of fantastic flowers and plants, symbolic images, exquisite weaves of arabesques.
On the wave of success, in 1897, in the Parisian gallery " La Bodiniere» the first exhibition of the artist's works was successfully held. On next year V Salon des Cent(Salon Sta) opened a second, larger one. Then whole line exhibitions were held throughout Europe.
In 1898, Alphonse began a brilliant collaboration with Georges Fouquet, the son of an enterprising Parisian jeweler. The result of the joint work was an extraordinary collection jewelry. Impressed by the success of the jeweler, he ordered Mukha to decorate the facade of his house and develop the interior for a new store.
Except artistic creativity, Alfons Mucha was engaged in teaching and analytical activities. In 1901, his book Decorative Documentation was published, which became a practical guide for many artists.
It contained samples of all kinds of ornaments, sketches of furniture, household items, sketches of jewelry. Most of the presented drawings were later embodied in finished products.
In 1900, the World Exhibition was held in Paris, for which Mucha designed the pavilion of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It was at this time that the artist developed an interest in history. Slavic peoples, which only intensifies while traveling to their native places. The desire to create a cycle of patriotic paintings in the neoclassical style grows stronger in him.
By the beginning of the 20th century, Alphonse Mucha had gained a reputation as a master, whose opinion was respectfully listened to by the artistic community not only in Europe, but also in America, which he first visited in 1904. The name of Alphonse Mucha was well known in America.
April 3, 1904 newspaper " new york daily news" printed one of his works - " Friendship"and an article dedicated to the artist's work. In 1906 Alphonse Mucha collaborated with " German Theater» in New York: he came up with scenery and curtain design, created decorative panels and costume designs. He spent four years in the United States, successfully combining painting and teaching.
Returning to the Czech Republic in 1910, the artist began to work on the realization of his old dream - the creation of a cycle of paintings " Slavic epic". This work took almost 18 years.
In 1913 Alphonse Mucha traveled to Russia, visited Moscow and St. Petersburg. A visit to the Trinity-Sergius Lavra caused him special feelings. The impressions received during the trip were reflected in the "Russian" canvases of this cycle.
In 1918, a new republic of Czechoslovakia was formed, and its government turned to Alfons Mucha with a request to develop the design of new state, postage stamps, state emblem and forms of government documents. This period of his work is marked by the creation of a sketch of the famous stained glass window in St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague Castle.
The final canvas from the Slavic Epic cycle was written in 1928, and the artist donated 20 works to the Czech people that poeticized the history of the Slavic peoples. These works aroused less interest among the audience than his early work in the Art Nouveau style, although for Alphonse Mucha himself, the work on this grandiose idea was the main meaning of his creative life.
In 1939, after the occupation of Czechoslovakia, the artist was arrested by the Nazis. In prison, on July 14, 1939, Alfons Mucha died and was buried at the Vyshegrad cemetery in Prague. In 1998, a museum was opened in the capital of the Czech Republic in honor of the famous Czech artist.
Creativity and works of Alphonse Mucha
Alphonse Mucha's paintings, with the exception of the epic paintings "Slavic Epic", are few and practically unknown to the general public. This is mainly chamber genre and portrait painting:
- « Woman in red", 1902
- « Madonna of the Lilies", 1920
- « Winter night", 1920
- « Portrait of Yaroslav", 1930
- « Woman with a burning candle", 1933
Cycle of works "Slavic epic"
From 1910 to 1928, Alfons Mucha worked on the painting cycle "Slavic Epic" from 1910 to 1928. 20 grandiose canvases were donated to Prague. The artist considered working on this cycle the main work of his life. Part of the pictures from the cycle:
Lithographs, posters and posters
Alphonse Mucha skillfully used the wide possibilities of the lithography technique (printing from the surface of a stone treated with a special chemical composition) in his works. With its help, he achieved a unique play of textures artistic expressiveness works known throughout the world today. The lithography technique allows replication, while each print retains its artistic originality. Thanks to this, the artist quickly became known throughout the world. In many houses one could see images of his beautiful women.
- Posters for the performances of the theater "Renaissance", 1894-1900
- » 1897
- ”, series 1896
- ”, series 1898
- ”, series 1900
- ", 1911
Jewelry
Creating posters for performances where Sarah Bernhardt shone, Alphonse Mucha depicted unusual jewelry on them. In search of new forms, he studied history and folklore.
These unseen pieces caught the attention of Georges Fouquet, a Parisian jeweler. As a result of the happy collaboration of the two talented artists absolutely innovative works were born jewelry art.
Most famous work jewelry art, created according to Mucha's sketch in 1899 - " rose hands”, a gold bracelet in the form of a snake, decorated with a scattering of precious stones. For the first time, a sketch of this bracelet appeared on the poster for the play " Medea»
It is noteworthy that although Alphonse Mucha is rightfully considered a recognized master of Art Nouveau, the artist himself did not recognize his closeness to this art. He was categorically opposed to being remembered only for his magnificent decorative works.
Working on the "Slavic epic", he hoped to convey to the minds of people his spiritual component, patriotism, concern for the future of his people. However, in the history of art, Alphonse Mucha forever remained a master of perfect forms.
Alfons Mucha Museum in Prague
In 1998 historical center Prague, in a magnificent baroque Palace of Kaunitsky, built in 1720, a museum dedicated to the work of the world famous and beloved Czech artist Alfons Mucha was opened.
The museum collection contains more than 100 works. Paintings, drawings, pastels, lithographs, photographs, personal items. Particular attention is paid to the works of the most famous, Parisian period of the artist's work. The museum has a souvenir shop.
The cost of visiting the museum:
- 180 crowns - adults
- 120 CZK - children, students and seniors over 65
- 490 CZK - family ticket (2 adults, 2 children)
Museum address: Prague 1, Panská 7. Location on the map of Prague:
Telephone: +420 221-451-333
Official website of the museum: www.mucha.cz
Work schedule: daily from 10:00 to 18:00
Alfons Mucha made a truly invaluable contribution to the development of the culture of his homeland, and the Czech Republic is grateful for all his creations.
Alfons Maria Mucha was born in the Czech town of Ivancice, near Brno,
in the family of a petty court official. The courthouse where the artist's father worked is still standing,
and now it houses the museum of Mucha Jr.
The boy drew well from childhood and tried to enter the Prague Academy of Arts, but to no avail.
After high school, he worked as a clerk until he found a job as an assistant through an ad.
decorator in the Vienna "Ringtheater" and did not move to the capital of Austria-Hungary.
In Vienna, in the evenings, he attended drawing courses and made the first illustrations.
to folk songs. After the theater burned down, Alphonse was forced to move to
the Czech city of Mikulov, where he painted portraits of local nobles.
There he met Count Kuen-Belasi, a man who played a very important role in his life.
Mucha was engaged in decorating the count's castle, and the aristocrat was fascinated by his work.
As a result, Kuen-Belasi became a patron of the young artist.
He paid Alphonse two years of study at the Munich Academy of Fine Arts.
In 1888, Mucha moved to Paris and continued his education there.
Many at that time aspired to the capital of France - after all, then it was the center of new art:
Eiffel had already constructed a three-hundred-meter tower, the World Exhibitions were noisy, and the artists were breaking
canons and promoted freedom. However, the count's financial affairs deteriorated,
and Mukha was left without a livelihood.
In Paris, Alphonse Mucha took up design for the first time, established contacts with publishing houses,
started creating covers and illustrations. He painted in oils
and his paintings were translated into the language of woodcuts.
For a long time he was interrupted by small orders, until Sarah Bernhardt appeared in his life -
brilliant French actress.
Perhaps Fly would have succeeded without her, but who knows ...
Sarah Bernard
Sarah Bernard
Sarah Bernhardt on Mucha's poster for the play Gismonda.
In 1893, before Christmas, Mucha received an order to create a poster for the play Gismonda.
Theater "Renaissance", owned by Sarah Bernhardt.
The artist depicted the prima, who played the main role in the performance, on an unusually shaped poster -
long and narrow. This emphasized her regal posture, the flowing hair of the actress Mucha
decorated with a wreath of flowers, put a palm branch into a thin hand, and gave a look of languor,
creating a general mood of tenderness and bliss. No one had done anything like this before Mukha.
To get the poster, collectors bribed posters or cut Gismonda off fences at night.
It is not surprising that the actress wished to meet the author and signed a cooperation contract with him.
Bernard Alphonse worked at the theater for six years. "The Lady of the Camellias", "Medea", "The Samaritan Woman",
"Lorenzachio" - all these posters depicting Bernard were as popular as "Gismonda".
lady with camellias
Samaritan
Hamlet
He came up with sketches of theatrical costumes and scenery, designed the scene and even participated in directing.
At the end of the 19th century, the theater was the center of social life, people talked about it and
argued in the salons, in the theater the ladies demonstrated new toilets and
jewels, and the men showed the ladies -
in general, the theater was food for inspiration and gossip.
Gems
Amethyst
Emerald
In the same Art Nouveau style, the artist also created colorful graphic series:
"Seasons", 1896, "Seasons", 1899, "Flowers", 1897, "Months", 1899, "Stars", 1900,
which to our time are widely replicated in the form of art posters.
Luxurious, sensual and languid "Mukha's women" were replicated
instantly and dispersed in thousands of copies in posters, postcards,
playing cards. The offices of secular aesthetes, the halls of the best restaurants,
ladies' boudoirs were decorated with silk panels, calendars and prints of the master.
Success came to the artist.
Poetry
Painting
Music
A little later, Mucha also began to collaborate with the well-known at that time
jeweler Georges Fouquet, who created jewelry according to the sketches of the artist.
products. Mucha-style jewelry is still popular today.
During the same period, Mukha designed many packaging, labels and
promotional illustrations for goods and products of various kinds -
ranging from expensive Moet & Chandon champagne to
toilet soap.
Cleopatra
Byzantine head
These two compositions, one of which depicts the profile of a blonde and the other a brunette,
are among the most expressive works of Alphonse Mucha. Except skillfully captured faces
and richness of nuances of color, their charm lies in luxurious and fantastic headdresses,
conjuring up the vanished magnificence of Byzantine culture.
Byzantine head
During the six-year collaboration between the actress and Alphonse Mucha
warm friendly relations arose, as evidenced by their
correspondence. And love? Did Sarah Bernard bewitch the Muhu in the same way as
a galaxy of many other men? Of course, the reporters did not pass over in silence
the relationship of the actress with the Czech artist, especially since his name was
speaking in its own way: the same name was given to the comedy character Dumas son
"Monsieur Alphonse", living off his mistresses.
Some even recommended that he change his name or sign with his godfather name - Maria.
However, Mucha was not Alphonse in the sense that Dumas put into this name.
In his correspondence with Bernard there is not even a hint of what was gossip about in high society.
Zodiac
reverie
Indeed, after the conclusion of the contract with Bernard, orders fell on Mukha,
he acquired a spacious workshop, became a welcome guest in high society, where he often appeared
in an embroidered Slavophile kosovorotka, belted with a sash.
A. Mucha Self-portraits
He also had the opportunity to arrange solo exhibitions.
In February 1897 in Paris, in a tiny room of a private gallery
"La Bordiniere", his first exhibition opens - 448 drawings, posters and
sketches. She enjoyed incredible success, and soon the people of Vienna,
Prague and London got a chance to see it all too.
Alphonse Mucha was a singer female beauty. women on
his lithographs are attractive and, as one would say now, sexy.
"Les Femmes Muchas" ("le femme Musha", "women of the Fly") -
languid, lush and graceful.
A complex interweaving of folds of clothing, curls, colors, patterns.
Impeccable composition, perfection of lines and harmony of color.
Czech artist Alphonse Muchu, like many other artists of his time,
pierced by an arrow of new art. It is interesting that the tastes of the artist demanded from him even
new technical solutions in the field of lithography. Art Nouveau, or Art Nouveau, swept Europe with
early 1880s, and only the First World War returned to the prose of life
beauty lovers.
Ivy
Thistle
And then academic norms collapsed, art historians argued loudly, in fashion
included oriental motifs. Painters abandoned straight lines,
fantastic lilies, daffodils and orchids bloomed on the canvases,
butterflies and dragonflies fluttered. Art Nouveau artists believed in the possibility of achieving
harmony with nature, simplicity and moderation, contrasting them with Victorian luxury.
Expressed in art, these virtues were supposed to contribute to the harmonization
relations between people - after all, beauty now seemed not to be something abstract,
beauty has become synonymous with truth.
And, of course, the phrase of Prince Myshkin "Beauty will save the world" was inscribed on the banners of supporters of everything new.
Flowers
One of the first theorists of Art Nouveau was the English painter and art critic John Ruskin.
His ideas were quickly taken up by British Pre-Raphaelite artists who followed
traditions of the Florentine masters early renaissance("Pre-Raphaelites", that is, "before Raphael").
Their fraternity included John William Waterhouse, John Everett Millais, Dante Gabriel Rossetti...
those of whom England is now proud. Pre-Raphaelite brush created a new female image
la femme fatale ("la femme fatale", "femme fatale") - mysterious, mystical and beautiful.
The muses of the artists were Proserpina, Psyche, Ophelia, the Lady of Shalott -
victims of tragic or unrequited love. And the painters drew inspiration from their stormy
personal life. It was these images that fascinated Alphonse Mucha.
Carnation
Princess Hyacinth
Moon
His series "Seasons", "Art", "Gems", "Moon and Stars" and
other interesting lithographs that were reprinted as postcards,
playing cards and diverged instantly - they all depicted women.
Mukha worked a lot with the models he invited to his studio, drew and photographed them
in luxurious draperies. He provided photos of models with comments -
“beautiful arms”, “beautiful hips”, “beautiful profile”…
and then from the selected "parts" he put together the perfect picture.
Often, while drawing, Mucha covered the faces of the models with a handkerchief so that they
imperfection did not destroy the ideal image he invented.
Nature
At the turn of the century, Alphonse Mucha became a real master, to whom
listened to in circles of the artistic community.
Sometimes even the Art Nouveau style in France was called the "Fly style".
Therefore, the publication in 1901 of the artist's book seems natural.
"Decorative Documentation".
This visual guide for artists, on the pages of which
reproduced various ornamental patterns, fonts, drawings
furniture, various utensils, cutlery sets, jewelry, watches, combs, brooches.
The technique of the originals is lithography, gouache, pencil drawing and charcoal.
In 1906, Alphonse Mucha leaves for America to earn money,
necessary to fulfill the dream of his entire creative life:
creating paintings for the glory of their Motherland and all Slavs.
In the same year, he marries his student Maria Khitilova, whom he passionately loved and
who was 22 years younger than him.
Mater Mukha among female images The Four Seasons series.
Image on the wall of a jewelry boutique in Austin, Texas.
Few people know about the monumental historical canvases of Alphonse Mucha,
and here is his women's collections"The world admires so far,
although the artist himself considered only these canvases the main business of his life.
In 1910 he returned to Prague and concentrated all his forces
on the "Slavic epic". This monumental cycle was donated by them
to the Czech people and the city of Prague, but was not successful with criticism.
At the same time, he designed a stained glass window design for St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague.
(commemoration of Saints Cyril and Methodius)
and painted many portraits of his wife, two daughters, son Jiri.
After the proclamation of the republic in 1918, Mucha was entrusted with the production of the first Czechoslovak
postage stamps, banknotes and the state emblem.
Panel from the cycle "Slavic epic"
In the spring of 1913, Alphonse Mucha went to Russia to collect materials for future paintings in the cycle.
The artist traveled to St. Petersburg and Moscow, where he visited the Tretyakov Gallery.
The Trinity-Sergius Lavra made a particularly strong impression on him.
The choice of the year of travel to Russia was not accidental. In 1913, the tercentenary of the Romanov dynasty was celebrated.
Our Father
And one more very important aspect of the life of this great admirer of female beauty
(just look at his poetic portraits of women).
His personal family life. Against the background of many loves, Mukha has always been
happy love for the only one. In 1906, already forty-six years old,
famous, he married in Paris his young student and
compatriot Maria Shitilova. She was and remained until the end of her life
his beloved Muse, his model. Was younger artist for 22 years. AND
adored him. Sincere and disinterested. For by the time of their marriage his debts
were much larger than his fortune. However, they both knew: "money is a thing
acquisitive" - and with uneven, irregular incomes, they gave birth and raised a son and
two daughters - red-haired beauties, so similar in face and article on
dazzling mother. Then he painted them, daughters, and in
singing lines of their figures, in their features he still found her, his adored
Mary, for until the last hour he did not want and could not get rid of her charms.
daughters
Daughter of Yaroslav
artist
Young girl in Moravian costume
Woman with a burning candle
Mucha died in 1939 of pneumonia. The cause of the illness was arrest and interrogation.
in the Czech capital occupied by the Germans: the Slavophilism of the painter was so famous
that he was even included in the nominal lists of enemies of the Reich.
Fate
A museum in Prague is devoted to the work of Alfons Mucha,
exposition of the cycle "Slavic epic" in Moravsky Krumlov and an exhibition about early years his life
in a renovated building. court in Ivančice.
Mucha's works are included in the collections of many prominent museums and galleries around the world.
Construction plans are currently being developed in Prague's Stromovka park,
not far from the former exhibition complex, a special building for exhibiting the "Slavic epic".
