Alfons Mucha
First and last name
Alfons Mucha
Date of birth
1860, Ivančice
Date of death
1939, Prague
Alfons Mucha was a Czech artist, recognized as one of the leading figures of the Art Nouveau movement. Born in 1860 in Ivančice, he began his career as a scenic painter in theaters. After an unsuccessful attempt to enter the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague, he moved to Vienna and then to Munich, where he studied at the Academy of Fine Arts.
In 1888, Mucha settled in Paris, where he gained recognition as an illustrator and poster designer. His breakthrough came when he created a poster for actress Sarah Bernhardt, which brought him fame and numerous commissions. His style was characterized by sophisticated compositions often depicting women in natural settings, surrounded by flowers and organic forms.
Mucha was also involved in various artistic projects, including a mural in Paris and the "Slav Epic," which he worked on for 18 years. After World War I, he settled in Prague, where he contributed to designing the first banknotes and stamps for the newly established Czechoslovakia.
He died on July 14, 1939, in Prague.