Alphonse Mucha
(Czech, 1860–1939)
Biography
Alphonse Mucha was a Czech artist known for his unique Art Nouveau illustrations and designs. Mucha’s style transformed the medium of poster design with its vertical orientation, tendril-like lines, and soft pastel colors. “The purpose of my work was never to destroy but always to create, to construct bridges,” he once said. Born on July 24, 1860 in Ivancice, Moravia (present-day Czech Republic), Mucha spent two years studying at the Academy of Art in Munich before moving to Paris in 1887. During his years in France, he shared a studio with Paul Gauguin and practiced occult ceremonies with the famed Swedish playwright August Strindberg. As his career progressed, the artist began receiving large commissions to create decorative panels for private homes. One such work, The Seasons (1896), exemplifies Mucha’s distinctive stylization of the female figure and natural motifs. After securing financial backing for a proposed suite of ambitious paintings he moved to Prague. Now back in his home country, the artist toiled over the The Slav Epic (1910–1928) for more than a decade. After the Nazi invasion of Prague in 1939, Mucha was deemed a reactionary and subsequently interrogated by the Gestapo while seriously ill. He died later that year, on July 14, 1939 at the age of 78. Today, the artist’s works are included in the collections of the Art Institute of Chicago, the Musée d’Orsay in Paris, and The Museum of Modern Art in New York, among others
Most Expensive Artwork Sold at Auction
The abolition of serfdom in Russia (reduced version), 1920
Sold price: 1,472,000 USD
Alphonse Mucha Artworks
Alphonse Mucha
Les Maitres de L'affiche; La Samaritaine from, 1899
Sale Date: March 2, 2022
Auction Closed
Alphonse Mucha
L'automatique / Papier photographique. Vers..., 1900
Sale Date: March 7, 2022
Auction Closed
After Alphonse Mucha
SARAH - BERNHARDT. Circa 1914, 1914
Sale Date: February 24, 2022
Auction Closed
After Alphonse Mucha
MME SARAH - BERNHARDT / WORLD'S TOUR..., 1914–1916
Sale Date: February 24, 2022
Auction Closed
Alphonse Mucha
LETEM CESKYM SVETEM / [A FLIGHT OVER THE..., 1898
Sale Date: February 24, 2022
Auction Closed
Alphonse Mucha
LETEM CESKYM SVETEM / [A FLIGHT OVER THE..., 1898
Sale Date: February 24, 2022
Auction Closed
Alphonse Mucha
DICTIONNAIRE DES ARTS DÉCORATIFS. Two small..., 1902
Sale Date: February 24, 2022
Auction Closed
![BOOK ILLUSTRATIONS, PORTFOLIO & BOOKPLATE.]...](http://qa1.artnet-dev.com/WebServices/images/ll00052lldkmyJFgOjECfDrCWQFHPKcFYSG/alphonse-mucha-book-illustrations,-portfolio-&-bookplate.]-group-of-5-items.;-morave;-ex-libris-/-arch.-dr..jpg "BOOK ILLUSTRATIONS, PORTFOLIO & BOOKPLATE.]...")
Alphonse Mucha
BOOK ILLUSTRATIONS, PORTFOLIO & BOOKPLATE.]...
Sale Date: February 24, 2022
Auction Closed
![ART NOUVEAU / CZECH.] Group of 39 postcards](http://qa1.artnet-dev.com/WebServices/images/ll00050lldkmyJFgOjECfDrCWQFHPKcFYSG/alphonse-mucha-art-nouveau-/-czech.]-group-of-39-postcards.jpg "ART NOUVEAU / CZECH.] Group of 39 postcards")
Alphonse Mucha
ART NOUVEAU / CZECH.] Group of 39 postcards
Sale Date: February 24, 2022
Auction Closed
![THE SEASONS / L'HIVER.] Decorative panel on..., 1900](http://qa1.artnet-dev.com/WebServices/images/ll00045lldkmyJFgOjECfDrCWQFHPKcFYSG/alphonse-mucha-the-seasons-/-lhiver.]-decorative-panel-on-silk.-1900.jpg "THE SEASONS / L'HIVER.] Decorative panel on..., 1900")
Alphonse Mucha
THE SEASONS / L'HIVER.] Decorative panel on..., 1900
Sale Date: February 24, 2022
Auction Closed
![LA PLUME ET PRIMEVÉRE.] Pair of decorative..., 1899](http://qa1.artnet-dev.com/WebServices/images/ll00044lldkmyJFgOjECfDrCWQFHPKcFYSG/alphonse-mucha-la-plume-et-primevére.]-pair-of-decorative-panels.-1899.jpg "LA PLUME ET PRIMEVÉRE.] Pair of decorative..., 1899")
Alphonse Mucha
LA PLUME ET PRIMEVÉRE.] Pair of decorative..., 1899
Sale Date: February 24, 2022
Auction Closed
![THE FLOWERS.] Circa 1901, 1901](http://qa1.artnet-dev.com/WebServices/images/ll00043lldkmyJFgOjECfDrCWQFHPKcFYSG/alphonse-mucha-the-flowers.]-circa-1901.jpg "THE FLOWERS.] Circa 1901, 1901")
![THE FLOWERS / LILY.] 1898, 1898](http://qa1.artnet-dev.com/WebServices/images/ll00042lldkmyJFgOjECfDrCWQFHPKcFYSG/alphonse-mucha-the-flowers-/-lily.]-1898.jpg "THE FLOWERS / LILY.] 1898, 1898")
![THE FLOWERS / IRIS.] 1898, 1898](http://qa1.artnet-dev.com/WebServices/images/ll00041lldkmyJFgOjECfDrCWQFHPKcFYSG/alphonse-mucha-the-flowers-/-iris.]-1898.jpg "THE FLOWERS / IRIS.] 1898, 1898")
Alphonse Mucha
LEFÈVRE - UTILE BISCUITS. Two biscuit tin..., 1900
Sale Date: February 24, 2022
Auction Closed
![INCANTATION.] Plate from L'Estampe Moderne...., 1897](http://qa1.artnet-dev.com/WebServices/images/ll00037lldkmyJFgOjECfDrCWQFHPKcFYSG/alphonse-mucha-incantation.]-plate-from-lestampe-moderne.-1897.jpg "INCANTATION.] Plate from L'Estampe Moderne...., 1897")
Alphonse Mucha
INCANTATION.] Plate from L'Estampe Moderne...., 1897
Sale Date: February 24, 2022
Auction Closed
Attributed to Alphonse Mucha
Pair of girls with flowers and branches
Sale Date: March 2, 2022
Auction Closed
Alphonse Mucha
MUCHA POSTER SARAH BERNHARDT THEATRE DE LA..., 1898
Sale Date: February 19, 2022
Auction Closed
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