Alphonse Maria MUCHA (1860-1939), Carnatio - Carnation, 1897

Color lithograph, heavy lithographic paper; 56 x 24 cm (composition), 70 x 50 cm (sheet);
Signed on the plate under the composition p. d. "Mucha" and numbered in pencil "32/100". In l.d. the mark "The Mucha Foundation".
Alphonse Maria Mucha - one of the most prominent Art Nouveau (French: art nouveau) artists - illustrator and painter. At the age of 20 he began his studies at the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich. In 1887, he moved to Paris, where he began studying the techniques of painting, drawing and composition. In 1894, commissioned by Sarah Bernhardt, he designed a famous theater poster that brought him international fame and the designation of an Art Nouveau icon. From then on, Mucha began creating custom posters, prints and illustrations. Alphonse Mucha believed that art should have an impact on society and change the world for the better. That's why he tried to create for everyone, not just a select elite. For this reason, his works were often educational and promoted values such as love, harmony and equality. The artist's style, called "le style Mucha," was characterized by a combination of natural motifs with ornamentation and color, which created an impression of harmony and balance. Mucha combines Byzantine and contemporary traditions. The artist's works are characterized by a wealth of detail, precision and attention to each element of the composition. Mucha's style often features elegant lines, beautiful women in the style of the belle époque, surrounded by a narrative of flowers and foliage with long wavy hair and sensual facial features.