Like
every aspiring artist of the day, Mucha ended
up in Paris in 1887. It was there that he achieved
great fame as one of the most important exponents
of the art nouveau movement. He created prints,
posters (many featuring the legendary actress
Sarah Bernhardt), illustrations for books and
magazines, and jewelry.
Almost all of his designs were centered on romanticized
female figures, highlighted by great flourishes.
It has been said that his popularity came too
quickly and he saturated his market with too
many products, thereby causing a decline in
quality and, eventually, demand. His early prints,
in mint condition, are considered valuable today
because they are some of the best representational
art of his era and because Mucha earned an important
place in European art history.
