Alphonse Mucha [Hardcover]

Agnes Husslein-Arco (Author, Editor), Jean Lousi Gaillemin (Editor), Michel Hilaire (Editor), Christiane Lange (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 3791343564 | ISBN-13: 978-3791343563 | Publication Date: July 1, 2009

This gorgeous volume surveys the entire breadth of Mucha s work from illustration and decorative arts to his photography and the historical paintings that were his life s passion.

Alfons Mucha is known largely for having originated Art Nouveau, when his poster of the actress Sarah Bernhardt became a legendary icon of the movement. Mucha went on to design hundreds of pieces in the decorative arts field, but later distanced himself from the style he pioneered, devoting his time and energy to painting. This book presents the full array of Mucha's artistic contributions-not only his posters and jewelry designs but also his design for the pavilion of Bosnia and Herzegovina at the 1900 World's Fair. The book also includes his works on canvas, which include pastels and frescoes, and his magnum opus, The Slavic Epic, a series of 20 paintings depicting the history of his native people. A stunning selection of 700 color illustrations is accompanied with essays that explore Mucha's style and inspirations, his transition away from the decorative arts, and his forays into photography. Fans of Art Nouveau will treasure this dazzling and unique study of the artist and his contributions to design and illustration.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

AGNES HUSSLEIN-ARCO is Director of the Belvedere Museum in Vienna. JEAN LOUIS GAILLEMIN is a professor of art history at the Sorbonne in Paris and curator of the exhibition Alfons MuchaA". MICHEL HILAIRE is Director of the Musee Fabre in Montpellier. CHRISTIANE LANGE is Director of the Kunsthalle der Hypo-Kulturstiftung in Munich.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 356 pages
• Publisher: Prestel USA (July 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 3791343564
• ISBN-13: 978-3791343563
• Product Dimensions: 12.7 x 9.8 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #285,181 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #25 in Books > Arts & Photography > Schools, Periods & Styles > Art Nouveau

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Awful , poorly designed and cumbersome book, January 1, 2010

By 

R. Haas "muchaphile" (Kansas City, Missouri United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Alphonse Mucha (Hardcover)

I have studied Mucha for over 40 years. This is without a doubt the very most user unfriendly catalog I have ever seen. The images in this heavy (5 lbs!) tome are printed in lurid colors,(some almost "day-Glow") and a chopped up format that destroys any understanding of Mucha's works. The designers of the book seem to have thought that they were being clever by using overlapping illustrations, so that there is no artwork that is presented in a simple full images. The essays are written in dated academic double talk, and it is filled with errors and with repetitions of long ago disproved information. The book was published for the magnificent exhibition in Vienna last year. The exhibition was profoundly beautiful and overwhelming. I was very put off by this catalog,and only bought it to obtain the scant few unknown images to add to my collection. I challenge anyone to use this book for a few minutes without becoming uncomfortable..the weight alone makes using it a sheer torture .(This applies to the paperback edition as well) Robert H.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well worth the price, January 15, 2010

By 

Max del Mar (Evanston, IL.) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Alphonse Mucha (Hardcover)

I bought this book about a month ago and I have to say that it is an amazing deal for the $40 that amazon charges for it. Worth every penny. I'd say it's a must have for any Mucha fan - I own a couple of other books on Mucha and this one is an excellent addition to the set.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Rest Of The Story, November 17, 2009

By 

Mark Roland - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Alphonse Mucha (Hardcover)

Alphonse Mucha is one of the most loved artists of the last hundred years for good reason. He was a complete master of graphic design, his posters and period advertisements are now synonymous with the Art Nouveau movement. The graceful line, and elegant arrangement of shapes and colors compel art lovers even more now, than they did his intended audience, through their continual reproduction and publication.

This book really features an artist less known and appreciated. While it includes a generous selection of posters, book illustrations and related designs, the true focus of this volume is the work he did in the years after the peak of Art Nouveau, when he embarked on a vastly ambitious cycle of works relating the history of the Slav people. For these works were monumental in scale as well as conception, and he spent the decades after his Paris fame engaged in their creation.

Here we have Mucha as a painter and muralist, the power of his design skills are put to a different purpose than the promotion of events and products. The illustrations in this book are excellent, and short of a visit to the Czech Republic, are the best look most of us will have of the encyclopedic depiction of figures and landscapes that comprise the Epic. It is a grand vision, one that is often tragic portrayed here, yet as beautiful in its way as the familiar Sarah Bernhardt posters. There is a new, subtle and melancholy use of color in the murals and tonality often replaces the linear crispness of his graphic style. These works may not be as accessible to some, but have a rich and solemn genius.

This volume does not gloss over the earlier works by any means, his jewelry, photography and other less known illustrations are here too. If you are only interested in the Paris period of his work, this might not be the best single book for you, others cover that in great detail. For an overview of his entire output, however, this is a very valuable resource, lavishly and lovingly produced, it makes a great addition to the library of any art lover.