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Posted by Kerry Kubilius Jul 24, 2007 |
Alfons Mucha was born July 24, 1860. He is most famous for his Art Nouveau-styled works of art, which include imagery that has entered the popular art lexicon, like the Four Season. The Four Seasons depicti winter, spring, summer, and fall as beautiful women framed in the scrollwork and floral decoration typical of the Art Nouveau style.
However, Alfons Mucha strived to be much more than a decorative artist. While the Art Nouveau style flourished and is still, today, known for its aesthetic qualities rather than any inherent meaning or social commentary, Alfons Much pursued art beyond its ability to please the viewer visually.
Mucha's Slav Epic is a series of large paintings that depict the history of the Slavs through Mucha's perspective. Underrated as much in the 1920's as it is today, the Slav Epic was Mucha's life's work. Tremendous in scope and detail, this magnificent series of paintings sought to express more than beauty; Mucha wished to tap into a spiritual element through the Epic. The size of each painting in the Slav Epic was perhaps inspired by Mucha's early work painting scenes for the theater.
Mucha's works, like the Four Seasons have been reproduced in print form after a revival in interest in the Art Nouveau style. Mucha also created images for cigarette advertisements, stamps, and theater posters. Unfortunately, the Slav Epic is not readily accessible to the public.
Anyone who travels to Prague will no doubt see evidene of Alfons Mucha's influence, either in Art Nouveau artifacts, or in architectural monuments. After all, Alfons Mucha lent his talent to some of Prague's most famous buildings. Prague's Gothic cathedral even contains stained glass panels designed by Mucha.