…or Alphonse Mucha, or Alphons Mucha…whichever spelling you choose, there is no denying the mastery and incredible draughtsmanship of this man, one of my all time favourite artists…

More often than not he included images of beautiful women with long flowing hair and draped robes, surrounded by flowers and plant life. Everything was beautifully observed and the use of colour was always exceptional.

Mucha was from Moravia, currently part of The Czech Republic and was an Art Nouveau painter and decorative artist. He was born in 1860 and died in 1939. He contributed to creating the instantly recognisable style of the Art Nouveau that was hugely popular at the start of the 20th Century. His work leant itself really well to being used on advertising posters and labels . His popularity has never really waned and for me his work provides an endless source of inspiration.

The two images above really show how beautiful his drawings were. These would have been “cartoons” – studies for larger, finished pieces, but they are truly beautiful in their own right. In these two images  his  models seem like  real women. I think that it is the limited palette and the fact that they look less fantastical than the full colour, highly embellished finished pieces.

The image below is, for me, what Mucha is best known for. His work was very graphic and linear. Even today, his pieces retain a really modern feeling to them.

The beautiful image below is truly representative of this fabulous artist at his best. The colours are gorgeous, autumnal shades alongside soft salmon and coral tones. Every area links together to make a beautifully decorative whole.

Below is one of my favourite images. I think it is the colours that I like so much here. They are cool and delicate and the way that Mucha has made the stars look truly illuminated is magical. I know that I will certainly return to this amazing artist and designer again and again.