Customer Reviews

Alphonse Mucha: The Spirit of Art Nouveau

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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.

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. :)

The essays by the various expertts wh O WROTE THIS GORGEOUS CATALOGUE ARE FIRST RATE> The only flaw in the book seems to be the flipped or incorrect photographs. Many of the photos are so well described in the catalogue entries, yet the photos are wrong in their direction or of another object completely. Never mind this small gripe though... this hefty erudite tome belongs in every Mucha afficianado's library.. a book for amateurs and experts alike

One of the best books that I have bought in a long time about my favorite artist. It (The Book) clearly and beautifully reproduces the work of this man, coupled with some well thought out text. As far as I am concerned a bargain at twice the price.
Well done to all hands involved!

I purchased this book from Amazon.com after visiting the Mucha Museum in Prague in September '07. Believe it or not, there were NO English versions of Mucha's life, works, or anything in book form. I was pleased to find this book available here and have enjoyed it greatly. It has good coverage of his life, and his works and a complete section in the back of his works in color. The only drawback is that not all of the colored pages are true to the colors that I saw at the museum, but most are good.

This is an extremely handsome volume, beautifully printed and presented. The content is vast: sketches, photographs of models, finished works - if you like Mucha's work, it's a must-have.

However: the review entitled, "Beware Amazon doesn't stock this item" was accurate regarding direct purchase from Amazon - after several months and delays, I cancelled the order and followed Amazon's "used & new available from ..." link to purchase it from one of their affiliates. Once I did that, I had the book within a week!

This Art Nouveau primer is a must see by any and all Art History students, or even by those fascinated by this period. Mucha is a prolific master of the human form, typography, composition and the Art Nouveau style.

His style has influenced many an artist from commercial art to comic book art, and seeing this volume will give you a greater understanding and appreciation of the type of artwork that was done during this era. Most particularly considering this was all done by hand, people become jaded to it's symmetry and assymmetry of his work.

His lesser known paintings and sculptures are showcased throughout the text, as well as a few photos of the artist. Everything from preliminary sketches to finished colored pages are found here, and this book is considered to be the definitive Mucha story.

This large and very handsome book, which presents itself as the catalogue for a 1998 exhibition, is a beautifully and intelligently presented anthology of the artist's very diverse career, capturing drawings and paintings, sculpture, posters, illustrations, decorative panels, and even jewelry design; the work of a master, all in excellent reproduction. Mucha was a fascinating man and an artist of considerable magnitude, and as the title claims, his work is the spirit of Art Nouveau, though no such label should limit the amazing body of achievment found here. I haven't collected other books of his work yet, but surely this volume will remain definitive for some time.

I saw this book at Borders and requested it from the library since I couldn't afford to buy it that day. It is an amazingly beautiful book with so many pictures. I love art books with lots of pictures, and this has many in colour as well as black and white. I recommend this book very highly. If you are a fan of art nouveau, Mucha, or just appreciate beauty, you will love this book.