Alphonse Maria Mucha Research Paper
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Alphonse Maria Mucha
Samantha Meneses
12 December 2014
Block 8
Meneses 2
Samantha Meneses
Mrs. Gurzo
Block 8
11 December 2014
Alphonse Maria Mucha
Due to his distinct and unconventional style, Alphonse Maria Mucha is known greatly for his illustrious contributions in molding the aesthetics of French Art Nouveau (French for “new art”) at the turn of the nineteenth century (“Alphonse Mucha Biography” 1). However, Mucha was not an instant triumph. Through hard work, determination, and passion, he became the epitome of the classic ragstoriches story. Today, Alphonse is famous not only for his work and its lasting impression on art, but how he reached success.
To begin, Alphonse Maria Mucha was born on July 24, 1860 in Ivancice, a town in the …show more content…
South Moravian Region in the Czech Republic. He was the son of Andreas Mucha and Amalie
Mala. Although drawing was his childhood passion, his singing skills enabled him to further his education through high school in the Moravian capital of Brunn (now Brno). Until 1879, he did mostly decorative painting work, primarily theatrical scenery. Then, at age nineteen, he traveled to Vienna to work at a major Vietnamese thespian design company, while simultaneously continuing his artistic studies. After a fire ruined his boss’s business in 1881, he went back to
Moravia, doing generally independent jobs. Then, Count Karl Khuen of Mikulov employed
Mucha to embellish Hrusovany Emmahof Castle with murals. Having been impressed by
Alphonse’s product, he offered to sponsor Mucha’s official training at the Munich Academy of
Fine Arts. In 1887, Alphonse resumed his instruction at Academie Julian and then Academie
Meneses 3
Colarossi while also creating magazine and advertising illustrations (“Alphonse Maria Mucha
Biography” 1). After two years, the monetary support was ended and he was set loose to the streets of Paris, streets he would soon change. But at that moment, 27yearold Mucha was the stereotypical tortured artist, poor of money and plans (“Mucha” 1). Some years later, his life flipped. Around Christmas of 1894, Mucha went inside a print shop where there was an immense call for a new poster to publicize a play featuring Sarah Bernhardt, the most well known actress in Paris, at the Theatre de la Renaissance on the Boulevard SaintMartin. He volunteered to produce a lithographed poster in two weeks time. On January 1, 1895, the endorsement for the show
Gismonda
by Victorien Sardou materialized on the city’s streets. Pleased with the overwhelming success of the poster, Bernhardt signed a six year contract with Mucha. Alphonse married Maruska (Marie/Maria) Chytilova on June 10, 1996 in Prague. The couple explored
America from 1906 to 1910, during which their daughter, Jaroslava, was born in New York City
(“Alphonse Maria Mucha Biography” 1). The family moved back to Czechoslovakia and settled in Prague in 1910 (“Alphonse Mucha Biography” 1). Their son, Jiri, was then born in the year
1915. In Prague, Mucha hoped to collect money to finance his nationalistic ventures that were to demonstrate to the Czechs that he was not a “sellout.” His projects were funded by Charles R.
Crane (“Alphonse Maria Mucha Biography” 1). For most of the remainder of his life, he dedicated his efforts to the twenty paintings that make up the
Slav Epic
(“Mucha at a Glance” 2).
The canvases were started in 1912 and reached completion in 1926. In 1928, Charles Crane,
Mucha’s financial backer, and Mucha himself presented them officially as a gift to the City of
Prague (3). Mucha also ornamented the Theater of Fine Arts, and gave murals to the Mayor’s
Office at Municipal House and other city landmarks. After Czechoslovakia gained its
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independence, he also fashioned new postage stamps, banknotes, and other government documents for the infant state. Adding to his long list of achievements, Mucha also decorated the
Bosnia and Herzegovina Pavilion and collaborated in the Austrian Pavilion (“Alphonse Maria
Mucha Biography” 1). When his homelands were taken over by Nazi Germany in 1938, the
Gestapo arrested and imprisoned Mucha due to his history of PanSlavism and patriotism
(“Alphonse Mucha” 3). His last piece of artwork was Slavs’ Oath of Unity, made in 1939 (4).
Ten days before his 79th birthday, he died of pneumonia on July 14, 1939. He is buried in
Prague’s Vysehrad cemetery (“Mucha at a Glance” 3).
Furthermore, Mucha made a mixture of paintings, posters, advertisements, book illustrations, jewelry designs, carpets, wallpaper and theater sets among other items. The majority of his pieces portrayed young, pretty females sporting flowy, slightly Neoclassical looking garments, often encircled by an abundance of flowers which occasionally composed a halo behind their heads. What was initially referred to as “Mucha Style” came to be called “Art
Nouveau.” While the approach was often imitated, Mucha himself attempted to move away from it as much as possible. He repeatedly said that “rather than adhering to any fashionable stylistic form, his paintings came purely from within and Czech art.” Insisting that art was made to merely convey an ethereal message, he was frustrated with his acquisition of prosperity through commercial means rather than lofty art representing dignity and his nationality (“Alphonse Maria
Mucha Biography” 1).
In the end, Mucha did undertake an enormous project that commemorated his birthplace. As aforementioned, he spent the last of his years creating the
Slav Epic
, a series he had dreamt about since he was young. His impact is still visible in modern times as well, notably
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in the works of poster designers for groups such Pink Floyd. In addition, Mucha style is evident in several comic book and manga artists’ pieces (2).
Lastly, Mucha’s work still appeals to many people, giving him a modern crowd of admirers. With the main focuses of his pieces outlined in distinct black lines, they resemble more realistic versions of the modern cartoon. The persons depicted look lifelike due to the intricate details crafted in their facial expressions, body language, down to the strands of their hair. These components add a clean look of sophistication and elegance. Alphonse constantly used pale, pastel colors that contributed well to the interpreted theme of his paintings, that being energy and life. This can be inferred due to the repeated appearance of colorful flowers and beautiful, healthy women. Dark colors would not be in tune with that artistic
message.
To conclude, Alphonse Maria Mucha not only revolutionized Art Nouveau, but accomplished many other things in his lifetime that still resonate in contemporary artwork. He picked himself up by his bootlaces and brought himself to the light. He exemplifies perseverance, spirit, and numerous of positive attributes that stretch beyond the barriers of art, for which he remains an allaround great role model. For his art, life, and influence, Mucha will be remembered for generations to come.
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Works Cited
"Alphonse Maria Mucha Biography."
Alphonse Maria Mucha Biography
. N.p., n.d. Web. 14
Dec. 2014. < http://www.alfonsmucha.org/biography.html >.
"Alphonse Mucha."
Olga 's Gallery
. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Dec. 2014.
<
http://www.abcgallery.com/M/mucha/muchabio.html
>.
"Alphonse Mucha Biography."
Mucha Museum
. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Dec. 2014.
<http://www.mucha.cz/index.phtml?S=biog&Lang=EN>.
"Mucha."
JVJ Publishing Illustrators
. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Dec. 2014.
<http://www.bpib.com/illustrat/mucha.htm>.
"Mucha at a Glance."
Mucha Foundation
. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Dec. 2014.
<http://www.muchafoundation.org/gallery/muchaataglance46>.
Alphonse Maria Mucha
Samantha Meneses
12 December 2014
Block 8
Meneses 2
Samantha Meneses
Mrs. Gurzo
Block 8
11 December 2014
Alphonse Maria Mucha
Due to his distinct and unconventional style, Alphonse Maria Mucha is known greatly for his illustrious contributions in molding the aesthetics of French Art Nouveau (French for “new art”) at the turn of the nineteenth century (“Alphonse Mucha Biography” 1). However, Mucha was not an instant triumph. Through hard work, determination, and passion, he became the epitome of the classic ragstoriches story. Today, Alphonse is famous not only for his work and its lasting impression on art, but how he reached success.
To begin, Alphonse Maria Mucha was born on July 24, 1860 in Ivancice, a town in the …show more content…
South Moravian Region in the Czech Republic. He was the son of Andreas Mucha and Amalie
Mala. Although drawing was his childhood passion, his singing skills enabled him to further his education through high school in the Moravian capital of Brunn (now Brno). Until 1879, he did mostly decorative painting work, primarily theatrical scenery. Then, at age nineteen, he traveled to Vienna to work at a major Vietnamese thespian design company, while simultaneously continuing his artistic studies. After a fire ruined his boss’s business in 1881, he went back to
Moravia, doing generally independent jobs. Then, Count Karl Khuen of Mikulov employed
Mucha to embellish Hrusovany Emmahof Castle with murals. Having been impressed by
Alphonse’s product, he offered to sponsor Mucha’s official training at the Munich Academy of
Fine Arts. In 1887, Alphonse resumed his instruction at Academie Julian and then Academie
Meneses 3
Colarossi while also creating magazine and advertising illustrations (“Alphonse Maria Mucha
Biography” 1). After two years, the monetary support was ended and he was set loose to the streets of Paris, streets he would soon change. But at that moment, 27yearold Mucha was the stereotypical tortured artist, poor of money and plans (“Mucha” 1). Some years later, his life flipped. Around Christmas of 1894, Mucha went inside a print shop where there was an immense call for a new poster to publicize a play featuring Sarah Bernhardt, the most well known actress in Paris, at the Theatre de la Renaissance on the Boulevard SaintMartin. He volunteered to produce a lithographed poster in two weeks time. On January 1, 1895, the endorsement for the show
Gismonda
by Victorien Sardou materialized on the city’s streets. Pleased with the overwhelming success of the poster, Bernhardt signed a six year contract with Mucha. Alphonse married Maruska (Marie/Maria) Chytilova on June 10, 1996 in Prague. The couple explored
America from 1906 to 1910, during which their daughter, Jaroslava, was born in New York City
(“Alphonse Maria Mucha Biography” 1). The family moved back to Czechoslovakia and settled in Prague in 1910 (“Alphonse Mucha Biography” 1). Their son, Jiri, was then born in the year
1915. In Prague, Mucha hoped to collect money to finance his nationalistic ventures that were to demonstrate to the Czechs that he was not a “sellout.” His projects were funded by Charles R.
Crane (“Alphonse Maria Mucha Biography” 1). For most of the remainder of his life, he dedicated his efforts to the twenty paintings that make up the
Slav Epic
(“Mucha at a Glance” 2).
The canvases were started in 1912 and reached completion in 1926. In 1928, Charles Crane,
Mucha’s financial backer, and Mucha himself presented them officially as a gift to the City of
Prague (3). Mucha also ornamented the Theater of Fine Arts, and gave murals to the Mayor’s
Office at Municipal House and other city landmarks. After Czechoslovakia gained its
Meneses 4
independence, he also fashioned new postage stamps, banknotes, and other government documents for the infant state. Adding to his long list of achievements, Mucha also decorated the
Bosnia and Herzegovina Pavilion and collaborated in the Austrian Pavilion (“Alphonse Maria
Mucha Biography” 1). When his homelands were taken over by Nazi Germany in 1938, the
Gestapo arrested and imprisoned Mucha due to his history of PanSlavism and patriotism
(“Alphonse Mucha” 3). His last piece of artwork was Slavs’ Oath of Unity, made in 1939 (4).
Ten days before his 79th birthday, he died of pneumonia on July 14, 1939. He is buried in
Prague’s Vysehrad cemetery (“Mucha at a Glance” 3).
Furthermore, Mucha made a mixture of paintings, posters, advertisements, book illustrations, jewelry designs, carpets, wallpaper and theater sets among other items. The majority of his pieces portrayed young, pretty females sporting flowy, slightly Neoclassical looking garments, often encircled by an abundance of flowers which occasionally composed a halo behind their heads. What was initially referred to as “Mucha Style” came to be called “Art
Nouveau.” While the approach was often imitated, Mucha himself attempted to move away from it as much as possible. He repeatedly said that “rather than adhering to any fashionable stylistic form, his paintings came purely from within and Czech art.” Insisting that art was made to merely convey an ethereal message, he was frustrated with his acquisition of prosperity through commercial means rather than lofty art representing dignity and his nationality (“Alphonse Maria
Mucha Biography” 1).
In the end, Mucha did undertake an enormous project that commemorated his birthplace. As aforementioned, he spent the last of his years creating the
Slav Epic
, a series he had dreamt about since he was young. His impact is still visible in modern times as well, notably
Meneses 5
in the works of poster designers for groups such Pink Floyd. In addition, Mucha style is evident in several comic book and manga artists’ pieces (2).
Lastly, Mucha’s work still appeals to many people, giving him a modern crowd of admirers. With the main focuses of his pieces outlined in distinct black lines, they resemble more realistic versions of the modern cartoon. The persons depicted look lifelike due to the intricate details crafted in their facial expressions, body language, down to the strands of their hair. These components add a clean look of sophistication and elegance. Alphonse constantly used pale, pastel colors that contributed well to the interpreted theme of his paintings, that being energy and life. This can be inferred due to the repeated appearance of colorful flowers and beautiful, healthy women. Dark colors would not be in tune with that artistic
message.
To conclude, Alphonse Maria Mucha not only revolutionized Art Nouveau, but accomplished many other things in his lifetime that still resonate in contemporary artwork. He picked himself up by his bootlaces and brought himself to the light. He exemplifies perseverance, spirit, and numerous of positive attributes that stretch beyond the barriers of art, for which he remains an allaround great role model. For his art, life, and influence, Mucha will be remembered for generations to come.
Meneses 6
Works Cited
"Alphonse Maria Mucha Biography."
Alphonse Maria Mucha Biography
. N.p., n.d. Web. 14
Dec. 2014. < http://www.alfonsmucha.org/biography.html >.
"Alphonse Mucha."
Olga 's Gallery
. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Dec. 2014.
<
http://www.abcgallery.com/M/mucha/muchabio.html
>.
"Alphonse Mucha Biography."
Mucha Museum
. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Dec. 2014.
<http://www.mucha.cz/index.phtml?S=biog&Lang=EN>.
"Mucha."
JVJ Publishing Illustrators
. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Dec. 2014.
<http://www.bpib.com/illustrat/mucha.htm>.
"Mucha at a Glance."
Mucha Foundation
. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Dec. 2014.
<http://www.muchafoundation.org/gallery/muchaataglance46>.