Alphonse Mucha is acclaimed for his distinctly stylized and decorative Art Nouveau illustrated posters and prints — particularly those depicting beautiful French actress and famous artists’ muse Sarah Bernhardt. His work remains widely loved by everyone from bohemian students to serious collectors.
Mucha and his contemporaries treated femininity as the antidote to the impersonal, masculine world of the industrial revolution — it was to be celebrated and embraced. He fervently believed that art is a crucial, enjoyable benefit to humankind, and it should be accessible to as many people as possible.
Mucha showed an early talent for drawing. Rejected when he applied to the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague in 1878, he traveled to Vienna — two years later at the age of 19 — and found work painting theater backdrops. After a tragic fire that destroyed the theater that employed him, he returned home and began painting portraits. Count Eduard Khuen Belasi hired Mucha to paint a series of murals for his residence.
In 1885, the Count sent Mucha to the Munich Academy of Fine Arts — paying his tuition and living expenses. Mucha moved to Paris in 1888 to continue his studies, where he shared a studio with Paul Gauguin. There, he became enamored with the nude female form and allegorical studies. He enjoyed some financial success with magazine illustration work, which led to lucrative book illustration commissions. One of Mucha’s illustrations for the book Scenes and Episodes of German History received a medal of honor at the 1894 Paris Salon of Artists.
In 1894, Mucha began a six-year contract for the acclaimed stage actress Sarah Bernhardt, creating posters for her shows and tours. His first poster was an immediate sensation and cemented his fame in the Art Nouveau poster artist community.
Mucha designed some of the most famous posters of the era — a time when these works were key to the fabric of the cosmopolitan thoroughfare in the French capital. He created advertisements for JOB cigarette papers, Ruinart champagne, Lefèvre-Utile biscuits and Moët-Chandon champagne. Although Mucha is renowned for his posters, he spent the latter half of his life on decorative panel works and Czech nationalist artworks — many of them in the collection at the Mucha Museum in Prague.
Find original Alphonse Mucha nude prints, figurative prints, wall decorations and other art on 1stDibs.
Four Alphonse Mucha Lithographs The Times Of The Day
By Alphonse Mucha
Located in Dallas, TX
Alphonse Mucha (1860-1939) Four lithographs on wove paper For serious collectors and museum collections. A full set of Mucha’s iconic period lithographs representing The Times Of Th...
Lithograph
Price Upon Request
"Obraz-Divka (The Girl)" - Original Alphonse Mucha Portrait Painting from 1911
By Alphonse Mucha
Located in Carmel, CA
"The Girl - A Study for the Slav Epic" is an authentic original work by the celebrated Art Nouveau icon, Alphonse Mucha. Dating back to 1911, this oil on linen is a profound piece of...
Oil, Linen
$3,776
H 28.15 in W 25.99 in D 1.19 in
Parisian French Cancan Montmatre Paris Portrait Belle Epoque
Located in PARIS, FR
Pierre-André Farcy, known as Andry-Farcy (1882–1950) French Cancan Oil on canvas 61 × 50 cm (24 × 19.7 in.) 71.5 × 66 cm (28.1 × 26 in.) framed Signed lower left Best remembered tod...
Cotton Canvas, Oil
"Pair of Cat Portraits" oil on canvas, circa 1920s
Located in SANTA FE, NM
"Pair of Cat Portraits," oil on canvas, circa 1920s Artist unknown Oil on canvas Unsigned. 6 x 7 1/4 inches each (18 3/8 x 12 frame) A pair of finely depicted cat portraits on canva...
Canvas, Oil
Portrait of a Boy, French Antique Oil Painting of a Choir Boy
Located in AIGNAN, FR
Antique child portrait oil painting in a gold coloured frame. A simple but stunning 19th Century portrait of a French boy. Here, the artist has given us a minimalist portrait with ...
Oil
$2,830
H 28.5 in W 24 in
Portrait of a Woman, Lady in Black Coat & Hat, Oil on Canvas, Paris School 1910s
Located in AIGNAN, FR
Early 20th-Century French Portrait of a Seated Woman in a Black Coat & Wide-Brimmed Hat by Louis Pierre Amiel, signed in the lower right and in a vintage gilt frame. A refined e...
Canvas, Oil
$1,770
H 15.5 in W 20 in
19th Century French Antique Oil Painting of Elegant Lady with Parasol
By Adrien SCHULZ
Located in AIGNAN, FR
Antique Oil Painting on canvas in velvet rimmed frame signed in the lower corner by French artist, Adrien Schulz (1851- 1931). Which captures the romantic elegance of the 19th centu...
Oil
$5,900
H 19.3 in W 16.15 in D 1.19 in
Women Belle Epoque French Symbolist portrait Art nouveau
Located in PARIS, FR
Lucien Joseph Coront Ducluzeau, known as Joseph Coront (1859–1934) Symbolist Portrait, circa 1900 Oil on canvas 40.5 × 32.5 cm 49 × 41 cm framed Signed “Coront” lower right Born in...
Canvas, Oil
Red - Original Sally K Figurative Artwork
By Sally K
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Gazing at Lebanese American artist Sally K's floral portrait is consuming and empowering. Inspired by strong, feminine women, she creates pop-realistic paintin...
Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic, Board
$1,200
H 36.25 in W 28 in D 1.5 in
Art Nouveau Ballerina Painting by Mystery European Artist
Located in New York, NY
Mystery European Artist Untitled, c. 20th Century Oil on canvas board 31 x 22 3/4 in. Framed: 36 1/4 x 28 x 1 1/2 in. Signed lower right
Canvas, Oil, Board
$2,950
H 10.24 in Dm 10.24 in
Portrait of Noblewoman - Oil on Canvas by Anonymous Master Early 20th Century
Located in Roma, IT
Beautiful circular oil on canvas representing the portrait of a Noblewoman dressed in Art Nouveau Style. It includes a contemporary black wooden frame. Very good conditions.
Oil
$33,500
H 27.25 in W 24 in D 5 in
"Portrait of a Contemplative Poodle, 1885" Carl Reichert (Austrian, 1836-1918)
By Carl Reichert
Located in SANTA FE, NM
"Portrait of a Contemplative Poodle, 1885" Carl Reichert (Austrian, 1836-1918) Oil on canvas Signed and dated center left "C Reichert 85" 19 1/4 x 15 3/4 (27 1/4 x 24 x 5 frame) in...
Oil, Canvas
$3,200Sale Price|20% Off
H 18.9 in W 30.52 in
Beautiful Italian Art Nouveau Portrait of two women
By Adriano Goby
Located in New York, NY
Beautiful Italian Art Nouveau style portrait of two women by Adriano Goby. Signed low-right.
Oil, Canvas
$4,531Sale Price|43% Off
H 46 in W 38.5 in D 2 in
Large French Society Portrait, by repute, La Comtesse de Blacas, Château d'Ussé
Located in Cotignac, FR
Large scale French society portrait from the 1920s featuring a lady in a 'flapper' dress before a castle and it's garden by Georges Gaudy. Signed bottom left and dated, 1925. The painting is by repute of La Comtesse de Blacas, in front of her home Château d'Ussé. Ussé was the subject of a French railroad poster issued by the Chemin de Fer de Paris à Orléans in the 1920s which may have been designed by Gaudy and this may be where the commission for this painting came about. Presented in very fine custom carved wood, gilt Florentine frame. The early 1900s were the zenith of 20th century society portraiture by the likes of Philip de László...
Canvas, Oil