Pretentious High Schooler Talks About Art : Alphonse Mucha

Alphonse Mucha was one of those artists whose art i kept seeing circulating around, but never could figure out the name of. I did eventualy learn who he was and fell in love with his art. I am a big fan of his stylishness and high detail. I was always a fan of his work for advertisements.

Czech born. He was born in July 24th, 1860 and died July 16th, 1939. While his singing capabilities allowed him to be carried through school, he had been drawing his first love since childhood. He had a job painting for a theatrical company while he lived in Moravia. In 1879 he moved to Vienna to work for a leading a different theatrical design company in order to further his study in the arts. This job however ended when a fire destroyed his employer's business in 1881. So he returned to Moravia to do freelance work. His first big break was when Count Karl Khuen of Mikulov hired Alphonse to decorate his castle with murals and was so impressed he sponsored him to have formal training at the Munich Acadamy of Fine Arts in Paris.

While studying in Paris he also did advertisement illustrations. Christmas 1894 he just so happened to walk into a print shop where the owners immediately needed a poster for a play starring Sarah Bernhardt, the most famous actress in Paris at the time, Mucha volunteered to do it in 2 weeks free of charge. The play was an overnight sensation and brought him tons and tons of recognition. Bernhardt was so impressed she gave him a 6 year contract. Since then it was uphill with him producing paintings, posters, advertisements, and book illustrations. He also designed jewelry, carpets, wall paper, and theater sets. At the time of his death his art style was considered outdated, but has been recognized in more recent times once again. His museum is currently run by his grandson John Mucha.

His art has been recognised worldwide for its soft colors and stylish aesthetic. He believes they were entirely a product of of the artistic spirit and his Czech heritage. He's declared that art is a spiritual way of communication, something that he made him frustrated while doing advertisement and freelance work.