Alphonse Mucha, for me, he is an artists, whose work is well known for everyone once they look at it, but almost no-one knows his name and who he was. He doesn't have a life-story to be remembered, like the tragic Toulouse-Lautrec's, however Mucha was there too in Paris! He was famous for creating his beautiful art nouveau master piece posters! He was famous, he was big and people were crazy about his posters too, since the first time his posters appeared in the streets of Paris!
His posters were so beautiful and well known that people were stealing his posters off the walls. Amusing enough for me, that a century ago people did the same, just like these days . Think about what's happening to some famous graffiti artists' work....the walls disappear from the street...or it reminded me and a friend of mine washing off a poster in Camden that we were really hooked on!
Alphonse Mucha is the featured exhibition now in the Russell-Coates Gallery in Bournemouth. Although the exhibition expands into 2 rooms of the gallery, it lines up the more famous works of Mucha touching upon different branches of his works, such as his packaging design (ranging from biscuits to perfumes), photography or magazine illustrations. Some of his sketches are on display as well and in the 2nd room a lengthy video tells you the milestones of his lifetime.
The Gallery even thought about the adventurous or the smaller ones, with some flower headbands and bouquets in a box where you can try them on, pose in the mirror in front of you and imagine you are one of the 'Mucha-girls'. Quite fun! :)
The below image shows his very first poster that made him famous, being so unique! Sarah Bernhardt is the actress who played Gismonda, and later became his muse!
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| Gismonda by Mucha |
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| Alphone Mucha selfportrait |
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Sarah Bernhardt, then gave him more work! More theatrical posters and designs were to be made and all by Mucha!
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| Theatrical posters by Mucha |
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| La Trappistine by Mucha, 1897 |
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| Lorenzaccio by Mucha, 1896 |
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Mucha's works were also wellknown and sought after in advertising and packaging designs.
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| Lance Parfum Rodo by Mucha, 1896 |
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| Mucha Poster |
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| Mucha poster |
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| Biscuit boxes by Mucha |
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In the 2nd room of the Mucha exhibition some of his series, photographs and many of his pattern designs and sketches are displayed along with a short film about his life and its milestones.
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| Russell-Cotes Gallery inside |
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I loved to see in real life this 'Flower series' by Mucha. You can find 'Rose', 'Iris', 'Carnation' and 'Lily'
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| Flower Series by Mucha, 1898 |
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| Rose by Mucha, 1898 |
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Another great series were on display. The Seasons!
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| Russell-Cotes Gallery inside |
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This small compared to the other bigger pictures was as detailed as the bigger counterparts and as beautiful as the others were.
Spring * Summer * Autumn * Winter
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| The seasons by Mucha, 1896 |
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| Winter and Summer by Mucha, 1896 |
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Feather! - another favourite of mine!
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| Feather by Mucha, 1899 |
Some of his sketches are also on display.
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| Mucha's sketches and pattern studies |
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The 10th Anniversary of the independence of Republic of Czechoslovakia, where the young woman represents the young country.
Can you see the different shields on the head? Is that a Hungarian shoudle with the double cross and 3 hills on the red background?
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| 10th Anniversary of the independence of Republic of Czechoslovakia by Mucha, 1928 |
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Well this could be me...the title is Rêverie, which means Daydream...and if you look at the eyes of this daydreaming woman...you will understand it immediately. Beautiful!
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| Rêverie by Mucha, 1897 |
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| Rêverie by Mucha, 1897 |
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The Zodiac is one if his most popular designs! No wonder why!
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| Zodiac by Mucha, 1896 |
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Beautiful poster advertising the new railway to Monaco.
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| Monaco Monte-Carlo poster by Mucha, 1897 |
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What: Alphonse Mucha Exhibition - In Quest of Beauty
When: until 27th September
Price: £3.5 - £5 (includes other parts of the museum too)
Length: I stayed in (was in a rush) 1h 20m
Worth it? --> Totally!!!!
Tips: Monday is closed
You are allowed to take photos, but no flash and the light is a bit dim.
You are allowed to take photos, but no flash and the light is a bit dim.
