Alphonse Mucha--The Spirit of Art Nouveau (Paperback)

by Victor Arwas (Author), Alphonse Marie Mucha (Author), Jana Brabcova-Orlikova (Author), Anna Dvoiak (Author), Anna Dvorak (Author), Art Services International (Corporate Author) "This exhibition is part of a larger revival and reappraisal of the art and life of Alphonse Mucha (fig. 1)..." (more)
Key Phrases: color lithograph, egg tempera, decorative panels, Sarah Bernhardt, Alphonse Mucha, New York (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal
Alphonse Mucha (1890-1939) was one of the most important decorative artists in Paris at the turn of the century. His sensual female portraits with their elaborate borders?le style Mucha?embody the essence of Art Nouveau. The Mucha family and the Mucha Foundation have put together a touring exhibition of Mucha's work, and this is the companion volume. Though numerous works on Mucha have appeared in the past few decades, none have been as exhaustive as this illustrated group of essays by noted European experts. The full-scale treatment covers paintings, decorative panels, pastels, drawings, photographs, jewelry, and advertisements as well as numerous book and magazine illustrations. The essays elucidate Mucha's political activities in Czechoslovakia, which spawned the enormous murals "The Slav Epic"; his association with the actress Sarah Bernhardt; and the impact of American patronage on his later work. This lavish homage may prove to be the most important study of an amazing and prolific artist. Highly recommended.?Joseph C. Hewgley, Nashville P.L., Antioch
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Description
This lavishly illustrated book presents the full spectrum of Alphonse Mucha`s works, from his innovative posters and decorative panels to his architectural designs, jewelry, sculpture, photographs, books, and interiors. The authors discuss Mucha`s years in Paris, his iconography of Sarah Bernhardt, his service to the Czech government, his distinctive style that became nearly synonymous with turn-of-the-century French Art Nouveau, and much more. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 344 pages
• Publisher: San Diego Museum of Art (February 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0883971232
• ISBN-13: 978-0883971239
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,998,118 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the most complete books of Mucha, July 24, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Alphonse Mucha: The Spirit of Art Nouveau (Hardcover)

By far, this is the best Alphonse Mucha reference book that is currently being published. There are others out there that have ALL of his works in one volume but they are now out of print. Not only is this rich in text about the artist and his life but it is a catalogue for one of the largest Mucha exhibits to travel throughout the US. Because it is a catalogue of an exhibit, it does not have every single one of his works. BUT it does have complete sets - the Four Stars, the Flowers, the Muses, etc. One of the best aspects of this books is that it also has his sculptures, jewelry, and studies of his Slavic pieces. Many of the Mucha books out there (which I still recommend) do not always have a complete look into the variety of his works. This book does.

I was lucky enough to see this exhibit in Reno - and it was just beautiful. To see the works in person is just breathtaking.

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Another textbook masquerading as an art book . . ., August 29, 2007

By	Tallin (U.S.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Alphonse Mucha: The Spirit of Art Nouveau (Hardcover)

If you are looking for an art book, avoid this one. I adore Mucha's work. That being said, I was decidedly underwhelmed with this massive tome. I was really looking forward to this because it seemed like it would be loaded with full color images from Mucha's career.
Half the book is black and white pictures with text. Then comes the 'Catalogue' which I'm finding means code for 'small pictures ahead'.
The entire Slav epic is reproduced, however the images are so tiny you can barely make it out, except for a couple pieces that take up half the page. Even more annoying is the fact that the teeny images occupy what is largely a blank page.Two or three images way down at the bottom and blank space for the rest of it.
I guess it's part of 'negative space' and art or whatever, but it felt like a rip off.
The rest of the 100 or so pages of art is much like this. Small images of most of his work, like 'Seasons' and 'Jewels' with mostly a blank page.
Why wouldn't they use more of the page and blow up the image so the reader can enjoy the works? This large book could have been the definitive book on Mucha for art book lovers. That is why I would rate this as an over hyped textbook. The best Mucha book out there is the one I imported from Prague.
Don't waste your time with this unless you are into a scholarly approach to this fantastic artist. For classroom study at best.

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best of the Best Mucha books you can find, September 18, 2002

By	"kigutsu" (Wyoming, MI United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Alphonse Mucha: The Spirit of Art Nouveau (Hardcover)

I have been looking for the picture "Lottery of the National Unity for Southwestern Moravia in Brno" ever since I saw the original this past summer in Prague, where the Mucha museum is located. If you have never heard of this picture, perhaps you can understand how MANY Mucha drawings, paintings, watercoulors and pastels are in here, to find such an obscure one. Not only does it have his known art, such as the 4 seasons, Laurel and Ivy, etc; But is also has his political art, THE ENTIRETY OF THE SLAV EPIC (Which is amazing), and many of his interior designs. How critics ever said Mucha wasn't one of the great masters of pen and ink, eludes me. This is one of the best books, and with Amazon's savings, it's even better. :)