What do you think?
Rate this book
Mucha's Figures Decoratives
To many, Alphonse Maria Mucha (1860–1939) is best known for his beautiful bell époque posters and magnificent decorative panels. His distinctive graphic approach to the 1895 poster advertising Sarah Bernhardt's performance in Gismonda captured the Parisian public's imagination and catapulted the artist into overnight success. During the next ten years he became the high priest of Art Nouveau, publishing several stylebooks which were to have a lasting influence on 20th-century art and design.
Figures decoratives , originally published in 1905, is a landmark book of the Art Nouveau movement and perhaps best exemplifies Mucha's artistic product in the years 1895–1905, the decade that made him famous. Mucha's purity of line and beauty of proportion take their inspiration from nature. But more than nature's imitator, he was its interpreter, translating its rhythms and designs into works that exude an indefinable charm. His unique approach combined originality of invention with spontaneous energy supported by flawless draftsmanship.
This new edition of Figures decoratives carefully reproduces all forty of the original two-color plates from a rare first edition now valued at several thousand dollars. Comprised of finished pen, pencil, charcoal, and chalk, this volume represents the essence of Mucha's genius and documents the subtle shadings and linear excellence that characterized his masterful illustrations. Placed in rectangles, triangles, stars, circles, and a number of irregular geometric forms are figures of women, young girls, and children of both sexes. The harmony between the movement of head, limbs, and drapery and the sense of balance in each pose are the result of Mucha's instinct for composition, gift for ornamentation, and profound knowledge of his craft.
Mucha's hand and eye are clearly evident in all his work though one can see other artistic influences which shaped the artist's development, including Gauguin's cloissonnism, Horta's and Van de Velde's kinetic treatment of curvilinear design, as well as the linear conventions of Moorish architecture and Islamic ornamentation. Yet Mucha himself believed that he owed his greatest artistic debt to the folk art traditions of his native Moravia.
Figures decoratives , originally published in 1905, is a landmark book of the Art Nouveau movement and perhaps best exemplifies Mucha's artistic product in the years 1895–1905, the decade that made him famous. Mucha's purity of line and beauty of proportion take their inspiration from nature. But more than nature's imitator, he was its interpreter, translating its rhythms and designs into works that exude an indefinable charm. His unique approach combined originality of invention with spontaneous energy supported by flawless draftsmanship.
This new edition of Figures decoratives carefully reproduces all forty of the original two-color plates from a rare first edition now valued at several thousand dollars. Comprised of finished pen, pencil, charcoal, and chalk, this volume represents the essence of Mucha's genius and documents the subtle shadings and linear excellence that characterized his masterful illustrations. Placed in rectangles, triangles, stars, circles, and a number of irregular geometric forms are figures of women, young girls, and children of both sexes. The harmony between the movement of head, limbs, and drapery and the sense of balance in each pose are the result of Mucha's instinct for composition, gift for ornamentation, and profound knowledge of his craft.
Mucha's hand and eye are clearly evident in all his work though one can see other artistic influences which shaped the artist's development, including Gauguin's cloissonnism, Horta's and Van de Velde's kinetic treatment of curvilinear design, as well as the linear conventions of Moorish architecture and Islamic ornamentation. Yet Mucha himself believed that he owed his greatest artistic debt to the folk art traditions of his native Moravia.
48 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 1981
6 people are currently reading
31 people want to read
About the author
Alphonse Mucha
96 books20 followersAlfons Maria Mucha, 24 July 1860 – 14 July 1939), known as Alphonse Mucha, was a Czech painter, illustrator and graphic artist, living in Paris during the Art Nouveau period, best known for his distinctly stylized and decorative theatrical posters of Sarah Bernhardt. He produced illustrations, advertisements, decorative panels and designs which became among the best-known images of the period.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
January 4, 2022
Although this book is only 48 pages, it is packed with gorgeous illustrations by Alpnonse Mucha. It begins with a four page concise history of Mucha’s rise to fame and then moves onto the forty plates. The drawings are stunning, though unfortunately there is no mention of the medium used or if the colors of the drawings; green, blue, brown are the original colors. (Perhaps colored pencil/pastels, as there appears to be the use of a white “pencil”) Although I will use this book primarily as a source for master studies of Mucha (there are several drawing per page), it is a joy just to look at all of the amazing drawings and marvel at his talent!
November 11, 2020
La excelente composición y uso del del espacio en el trabajo de Alphone Muchá nos muestra el porque es uno de los pioneros del diseño gráfico contemporáneo.
February 2, 2022
Gorgeous illustrations. I love having this book on kindle, I review it often before going to drawing events to prime my brain on how I want my own art to look.
February 2, 2024
Beautiful. While known for the smooth colours within elegant linework of his posters, this shows he has equal skill in beautiful shading and more naturalistic sketches.
January 13, 2008
I love this book. It's simply a reproduction of 40 plates in their origional colors. This is a great reference book.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews