Much Ado About Mucha

Mucha is considered one of the pioneers of the Art Nouveau movement, which was characterized by flowing, organic designs and motifs inspired by nature.

Born in 1860 in Moravia (Now part of Czech Republic) one of his first commercial jobs was decorating the Emmahof castle with murals.

Famed for his iconic poster designs. Notable examples include the ones he created for the actress Sarah Bernhardt for whom he also designed stage-sets.

One of Mucha's most significant works is the "Slav Epic," a series of 20 large-scale paintings celebrating history and culture of the Slavic people. It took him nearly two decades to complete this monumental project.

In addition to posters, Mucha's instantly recognizable designs appeared on commercial products such as biscuit tins, cigarette packets, and champagne labels.

Mucha's designs also extended to jewelry, and he created several exquisite pieces for the French jewellery house, Fouquet

Mucha was a skilled photographer capturing many notable figures of his time. He did not see his photographs as works of art and their natural quality give them a fresh appeal compared to other photographs of the time.

Mucha was also interested in philosophical and spiritual themes. His "Pater Noster" is a beautifully illustrated book with ornate illustrations of the text of the Lord’s Prayer. Pictured here is Lead Us Not Into Temptation But Deliver Us From Evil, 1899

Mucha’s work was rich with symbolism such as that of the zodiac. Pictured here, The Moon and the Stars depicts celestial bodies as female figures.

Mucha’s work attainted iconic status in the Art Nouveau period and beyond. It significantly inspired the art and poster design of the Psychedelic 1960s and continues to inspire artists today.

Pictured here is Girl with the Green Hair 1966 by Stanley Mouse and Alton Kelley (with just a little bit of help from Mucha!)

If you want to experiment witn some Mucha vibes in your work then check out the stunning Dropdead Gorgeous Drawing Session starring recently: