7 Wonders of Art Nouveau

An intro to Alphonse Mucha

Earlier this week we covered the story of Art Nouveau — today, we explore the work of one of its most celebrated artists.

Alphonse Mucha was born in 1860 in Ivančice, Moravia (now part of the Czech Republic), and rose to prominence at the turn of the 20th century. His early life was marked by a fascination with art, despite financial difficulties that made formal training a challenge. When he moved to Paris in 1888, his career unexpectedly took off after he was commissioned to create a poster for the famous actress Sarah Bernhardt.

This one commission led to widespread acclaim and cemented Mucha’s place in the Parisian art scene. As his career progressed, his style came to define the Art Nouveau movement and he quickly became one of its most iconic representatives.

So here are 7 of Mucha’s pieces that showcase the essence of At Nouveau — and the spirit of an era…