The Man Behind the Lines

1946 Words4 Pages

A man of innovation, style, and creator of labyrinthine masterpieces in all media, Alphonse Mucha is often named the greatest and most influential Czech artists. As one of the fathers of Art Nouveau, Mucha developed a reputation with his posters, architecture, jewelry and sculpture that had never been seen before; a complex weaving of lines and pastel colors featuring voluptuous women and a harmony that can only be described as: Mucha style. His graphic designs and posters often hold the limelight of Mucha’s ability, but the complexity of his imagination and inspiration show another deep dimension behind the man, his visions, and his beliefs in art, as well as the world.

To begin to know the artist, one must start at the artist’s beginning. Mucha was born in 1860 and raised in a Moravian village in Ivančice (Chilvers, 390). His family was at the bottom of respectability due to his father’s position as a court usher. Mucha was familiar with poverty and suffering, and saw it at a daily basis because his family lived in the same building as the local jail. He also saw the loss of three of his siblings to tuberculosis. Mucha was raised in a highly religious household and often found solace in the church; spending hours knelt in front of a crucifixion to absorb the chanting and the atmosphere of the Catholic mass. (Mataev)

The town of Ivančice was strong in its Czech culture, pure patriotism tried to preserve it from the German oppression and authority that was rampant due to the Hapsburg rule. The town tried to keep the Czech language as the prominent dialect, preserve the enchanting folk tales, and the highly botanical adorned cottages from being erased and replaced by the German culture. This patriotism ran in Mucha’s blood, hi...

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Works Cited

Chilvers, Ian. "Mucha, Alphonse." The Oxford Dictionary of Art and Artists. London: Oxford University Press, 2009. Pg 389– pg 390. Print.

Kubilius, Kerry. "Mucha and the Slav Epic: Alphonse Mucha's Art Nouveau style was all the rage in 1920's Prague.." E European History. N.p., 31 Aug. 2006. Web. 23 Feb. 2010. .

Mataev, Yuri, and Olga Mataev. "Alphonse Mucha”. - Olga's Gallery." Olga's Gallery - Online Art Museum.. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Feb. 2010. .

Mucha, Alphonse. Drawings of Mucha. New York: Dover Publications, 1978. Print.

Mucha, Sarah. Alphonse Mucha. ,: Frances Lincoln, 2006. Print.

Ulmer, Renate. Alfons Mucha, 1860-1939: Master of Art Nouveau (Albums).

illustrated edition ed. Taschen, 1997. Print.

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