Alphonse Mucha

Czech painter and printmaker
Czech, (1860–1939)
Mucha established himself as a respected poster designer in Paris in the late 19th century, after designing a poster promoting the actress Sarah Bernhardt. His illustrations are distinguished by their mosaic backgrounds influenced by Byzantine artwork, and the romantic female form often depicted in flamboyant, theatrical poses, wearing garments laden with precious gems. Mucha's work was also popular with commercial businesses at the time, who often hired him for illustrations. [and, not from ULAN:] The Czech-born painter and graphic artist Mucha worked primarily in France, where he attended the Académie Julian and worked in the studios of Jules Lefebvre and Jean-Paul Laurens. He is well known for his colorful Art Nouveau posters, in which he demonstrated his taste for flamboyant women in theatrical poses.