Alphonse Mucha, anyone??

[Main Loop]

i was looking in here and i couldnt believe there was no Mucha thread.. i guess everyone assumes everyone else knows about him..
starting it off:
http://www.artchive.com/artchive/m/mucha/mucha_dance.jpg
http://vovo2000.com/who/master6/09.jpg
http://www.jkrweb.com/russell/images/mucha1.jpg
http://blocek.net/obrazky/mucha2.jpg
http://www.fantasyweb.idv.tw/yilu/gallery/Artist/Mucha_Alphonse/1/MA14.jpg
http://art.pro.tok2.com/M/Mucha/mucha37.jpg
http://www.artesanato-mr.com/ruby/amucha/images/amucha10.jpg
http://www4.worldisround.com/from_www3/photos/0/277/274_o.jpg
http://dreams.awarm.net/images/mucha/flower.jpg
http://www.wyldeart.com/Galleries/Art-Nouveau/Mucha/Images/CyclesPerfecta1Up.jpg

there's tons and tons of pictures to look for, but i wanna see what gems you have.........

[Diego]

Hey Mainloop, I love mucha, don't know very much about his life but i love his designs and colors.
Here's some.

http://images2.imagehigh.com/imagehigh/29052005194220_Study_of_Drapery_1900_61x46cm_crayo n_gouache.jpg
http://images2.imagehigh.com/imagehigh/29052005194222_Studies1_1902_52x39cm_crayon_gouach e.jpg

[darth massacre]

I like Mucha's works too.

In fact I feel he would be a damn good comic book artist if he were born a little later. His style totally fits into today's comic art scene. It was way ahead of his time and even then his style was pretty popular. Either that or our tastes haven't quite changed that much over the decades.

[Prehistoric]

Mucha rocks!

we actually have some of his stone lithographs at the gallery where i work.

[one2hit]

Mucha is pretty awesome. You can get a bunch (lots and lots) of his paintings at the ARC in hi-res.

[briggsy@ashtons]

If you're curious to see some less well known works by Mucha (or anyone else), try the Sotheby's site (http://search.sothebys.com/). At the moment a search for "Mucha" in the current listings (http://search.sothebys.com/search/quickSearch/k2/SearchResult.jsp?auction_search=Mucha&plainQuery=Mucha&format=textImage&orig_auction_search=Mucha&coll=liveQuick&catCode=&catName=&catType=&catCheck=) and the sold lot archive (http://search.sothebys.com/search/quickSearch/k2/SearchResult.jsp?keyword=&creator=Mucha&titleName=&hammerFrom=&hammerTo=&hammerCurrency=USD&saleDateFromMonth=01&saleDateFromYear=2000&saleDateToMonth=12&saleDateToYear=2006&provenance=&auctionLocation=All&saleTitle=&saleNumber=&liveLotNumber=&HitsPerPage=20&format=textImage&sortspec=GMT_START_DATE_TIME+desc&categoryText=&categoryK2=&centuryText=&coll=liveClosed) will turn up about twenty drawings and a few paintings, as well as a heap of the posters. You can also browse catalogues (http://search.sothebys.com/jsps/live/event/EventSearchResults.jsp?catalogue_flg=true&activity_type=AUC|Auction) in whatever department interests you, e.g. Old Master Drawings, 19th century, Impressionist and Modern etc.

[GriNGo]

MUCHA KICKS YOUR ASS! i just fell in love with his style when I first saw it in my DESIGN history class a year ago... he's one of my favs since then. Personnally, he's the best of the Art Nouveau scene from a century ago. one day when i grow up and paint well, i will COPY his style, yes i will be a bastard.

[phrozac]

the comicbook artist Adam Hughes is obviously a fan. check him out if you'd like to get a sense of what a modern day Mucha could possibly look like in comics today. line weight and form in full effect! the Voodoo covers in particular...

or Mucha is who i think of every time i see an AH! cover at least.

http://www.adamhughesart.com/

[jetpack42]

Mucha is the man. Anybody not familiar, get yer ass to the ARC pronto!

[loomer]

Mucha is just too much...Even folks who can't stand Art Nouveau can't deny this guys draftmanship...his command of line and form is so awesome

[PHATandy]

Being a complete Art history noob, minus a few of the really big ones, iver never heard of him but this is WOW.

His use of lines in his paintings are excellent.

Thanks for posting.

[Zaknafain]

Jason manley posted some mucha art in the workshopforums (just in case someone didn't see it yet):
http://www.conceptart.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=961
http://www.conceptart.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=974

Here is the thread and more art:
http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=49964

[Danomight]

My girlfriend and I have a Moet and Chandon poster in our kitchen. This guy has such a great style. I am reminded of this guy when I look at Adam Hughes artwork, lots of thick outlines, faint lines in the interior.

[drama]

less design-like but absolutely breathtaking is his slav-epic. Iff you ever have the chance go see it, it's quite a distance from praque but wel worth the effort of a extra trip.
It's a total shame that mucha is only remembert by his posters etc and this part of his career is forgotten.

best site I could find on it:
http://www.pricejb.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/slav-epic/introduction.htm

[mybutterflyiris]

I heart Mucha. He is one of my favorite artists of all time.
I own two of his antique lithograph prints, they are the times of day their are two more that go along with these but these were a spurr of the moment buy type thing in an antique store I was roaming about (the other 2 weren't there)...I about fell over when I saw them...they are about 4 ft. high:
http://images.easyart.com/i/prints/rw/lg/7/3/Alphonse-Mucha-The-Night-7342.jpg

http://images.easyart.com/i/prints/rw/lg/7/3/Alphonse-Mucha-The-Day-7345.jpg
And if you like Mucha, I'd suggest checking out Beardsley (http://www.griseldaonline.it/foto/allegro_severi/beardsley.jpg). His work, "Salome" was the piece that introduced me to art nouveau, and what has made me into a fanatic. :)

[blog]

this guy rocks because he achieves excellence with line alone and doesn't need to depend on rendering and detail, like MarKo:although you can see he has mastered that aswell

[Icon]

I love mucha to an unhealthy degree. He is probably one of my favorite artists. He had such a love for art he did everything. interior design, statues, even jewelry!

And his master pieces like the slav epic, just makes me want to cry.

[Onir]

whooa so this is who people mean when the say the name Mucha; I'd seen his style before but really never could place artwork with his name. the images I've seen here look reaaally nice, gonna have to go check his stuff out more though.

[Idiot Apathy]

Found this the other day, Mucha's The Slav Epic; booyah!
http://www.pricejb.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/slav-epic/Gallery.htm

[guggemmaneuver]

thanks idiot apathy...

wow...

[Idiot Apathy]

The history and story of it is just as interesting (ok, maybe a little less interesting)
http://www.pricejb.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/slav-epic/introduction.htm

[cartoonfox]

Yeah I have an art book of his. Such an inspiration, Beautiful work.

[blog]

yeah, teh art nouveau style's really makin' a comeback, this guy does indeed rock!

[Ian Mack]

Funny thing is that he never considered himself part of the art nouveau movement. He always maintained that he did his own thing.

I like the setup he had going on though...I think was in France...He ran an open studio where he would work and other people could observe, or paint as well.

I've always loved his works. Everytime I see it, I think of a teacher who told me you can't use black outlines in art. pffft

Has anyone tried to do something Mucha inspired? Harder than it looks!

[dmitri]

I was visiting Prague a few years ago, I think, and... Mucha is sort of everywhere there. I can't recall wheter I had heard of him before that trip, but in Prague I absolutely fell in love with his works.

He had such beautiful lines! It was completely breath-taking to see some of his pencil-sketches... especially the hands.

By the way, how is the name pronounced?
It's a bit unnerving to try and have real-life conversations about him when everyone is sort of embarrased to say his name. :D
(Question with little actual meaning, but it bothers me!)

I tried to do something Mucha-ish once... but my lack of skills kicked in really mightily. That must have been one of the ugliest drawings I have ever done.

[Idiot Apathy]

I've heard it said 'mooka' , always thought it was moocha though. Mooka probably.

Oh erhm, if we trust the internet:
How To Pronounce "Mucha":
mook·ha
http://arthistory.about.com/od/namesmm/p/mucha.htm

[Cthogua]

Yeah, Mucha changed my life, accidentally even. One of my painting professors was talking to another kid in the class and I over heard them talking...the prof went off to get a book for the guy, and when he brought it back the guy looked at it for like 5 seconds, said thanks, and just set it back down on the teachers desk. A few minutes later, drawn to the oversize, dustcoverless red book I picked it up and started flipping through it. I don't know if anyone has had a similair experience, but it was like having the doors blown off my brain. It was the coelscense of everything I had been thinking about for the better part of that year at school without even realizing what it was. I had never heard of art nouveau, and suddenly I realized that I had been drawing, or atleast attempting to draw in that style without conciously knowing it or what it was....it was like finding my artistic family. I know that sounds cheesy, but thats the only way I can explain it. After devouring that book for weeks I scoured the Art Department Library for books on other art nouveau artists and art. Suffice it to say I became very obsessed (and still basically am) with art nouveau and its predessecor the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. mmmm...Symbolism...and don't even get me started on the occult side of things, theosophy, alchemical allegories...ok, I'll stop gushing :blah: :blah: :blah:

[marco nelor]

regardless of how you spell or pronounce it.....if you guys havent seen any of his work up close and personal, id sugggest you do!!!!! theyre incredible, and the way he handles the use of lines to show form (look closely at how he does his arms ahd wrists, and forearms) . Id suggest looking or googling his series he did of the four seasons. even a print of one costs about 200-400 bucks ...dont waste yer money on it if its less than 40 bucks....because they actually lose a LOT of quality. (an art dealer showed me the difference)

[Cookiedough]

He's a great artist. I found it interesting how he got so commercially successful, people actually got worn out and started to dislike his art. Too much whoring ain't good. :P

I really dig his swirls and soft colors. He always made his girls pretty and almost angelic, yet not innocent at the same time. I gotta reread my cheapass Muchabook and play with acrylics later.

[xenos]

Yeah, Mucha is da Man! i have been fan of his work half my life (ever since i first saw his work) I even tried to ape his style some years ago but never actually succeeded :(

[Joaquin Quicksilver]

his Slav epic work is SCRUMPTUOLESCENT!
he has been of great influence in the Czech Republic: he designed the currency, somewhat every poster to be seen in Prague was his, he designed jewelry, furniture, books and so on. he's the godfather of the Jugendstil.

[Sara Lynn]

I love Mucha so much! My dorm is full of his stuff because it's so common at our poster sales, I also have a big ol' book of his art. I love that his wife modeled for most if not all of his drawings of women, just touches the romantic part of my heart-place.

[Tully]

Does anybody know where to find the Slav Epic in high (or higher) resolution? Those ones that Idiot Apathy linked are so gorgeous but so low res :(

[Forecast]

Most old artists I know who've been alive since around the 1920's and 30's always regard Mucha's art as "decorative" and nothing else. They don't like him... I wonder why? Maybe because everyone liked traditional art *shrug* (well, alot of older artists tend to be quite bias against anything new like anime. Older artist favor traditional oil paints... I guess whatever the artist grows up with). Mucha was defiantely ahead of his time, it's too bad not many saw it after his death (and not very many even today....)

I went to the Czech Republic just to see Mucha's two galleries. The work wasn't kept in good condition. They should move it to a museum.

[sve]

Hmm, I don't think his work is just decorative. faces of his characters are actively searching for contact with viewer, eye to eye, expressive poses, inflicting certain reaction. Very active, involving drawings/ paintings, actually it is more like colored drawings.
His themes are erotic, richness of nature, beauty of the world, I think.

I personally see a huge legacy form old masters in his art, from Rubens's lavish paintings created for pure eye pleasure, Flemish still lives, the same idea, treasure of nature, Raphael, with those light weightless scarfs and cloths flying in the wind, type of face like Sistine Madonna ( but it was fashionable type of face in these years, though; very feminine with soft chin, luxurious woman type. So maybe there is no connection with Madonna (kind of perverted, erotic madonna, but, you know, artist's freedom to express himself))).

[Ilaekae]

I've been a stamp collector for over 50 years, and those of you who don't know it already, Mucha was deeply involved in the formation of the Czechoslovakian state...he designed their stamps.

The ones with the castle on are referred to as "Hradcany." Most of the stamps aren't all that expensive and you can claim you own an authentic Mucha...

(The one that looks like a color proof is actually a strip of printer's waste from the press setup. I have about 200 of these pieces and some of them are absolutely gorgeous.)

[Idiot Apathy]

Does anybody know where to find the Slav Epic in high (or higher) resolution? Those ones that Idiot Apathy linked are so gorgeous but so low res :(

Unfortuneatly it doesn't seem too well documented - the link I posted seems to be the most complete and I've really only seen the images repeated elsewhere. Perhaps in hard copy? Someone needs to visit the library no?

Some other nice things here though,
http://www.muchafoundation.org/mucha/page.php?page=gal

Also ... if you can read czech you might try the castle/town? where the Slav Epic is on display;
http://www.mkrumlov.cz/index1.php

Edit: Nevermind, I learned czech in a day - the pictures they have are worse.
http://www.mkrumlov.cz/index1.php?id=552

[HugeHarHar]

Does anyone know how long one of his paintings usually took on average?

[guggemmaneuver]

ilaekae--> big, huge thanks! WOW, i had no idea! :yayca:

[Mr-Kx]

Hey ya'll,

Well I wanted to reply to add my own praise for the immesurable talent of this man, his work is just awe inspiring... and hey, I only found out about him a week ago! lol But i've already falled in love with his work, it's beautiful...

So I also wanted to ask if anyone knew where I could find some more of his work, he seems to have worked his butt off and done a lot of commercial stuff which puts modern day advertising to SHAME! I have saved all the sites listed, but whats this ARC i hear mentioned? I'm looking for anything hi res I can get my hands on so I can play around with his work on photoshop, gonna make me a some Mucha backgrounds and what not...

So yeah, any idea where I can find more of his amazing work and specifically hi res? (and VERY specifically the Zodiac panel, it's the painting that actually got me to notice his so I'l love to be able to print off a poster...)

[Seedling]

Found this the other day, Mucha's The Slav Epic; booyah!
http://www.pricejb.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/slav-epic/Gallery.htm

Holy crap! Thank you! *drool*

[guggemmaneuver]

my homeboy Jetpack42 mentioned this above but... i didn't see this link anywhere on this page.

Here's the ARC link (http://artrenewal.org/asp/database/art.asp?aid=598)... tons of good scans in there... thought you guys would appreciate.

(big thanks to alcian)

gug

[Brett Allen]

I will be totally honest, I have never seen his artwork before, but I find it completely mind blowing... I love how it has the nice 20's-30's feel in some of them, but at the same time some almost seem as if they have an oriental or Indian feel to them. Awesome stuff!

[Sway West]

I've seen Mucha's work in the past, but I wasn't aware of who was responsible. I finally found a calendar at B&N and did some hardcore research. His work is mind-blowing! Aside from the obvious appeal to design and color usage, I just adore his female figures. They're so natural.

[JQP]

Mucha is big with the comic book types.