Like every
aspiring artist of the day, Mucha ended up in Paris in 1887. It
was there that he achieved great fame as one of the most important
exponents of the art nouveau movement. He created prints, posters
(many featuring the legendary actress Sarah Bernhardt), illustrations
for books and magazines, and jewelry.
Almost all of his designs were centered on romanticized female
figures, highlighted by great flourishes. It has been said that
his popularity came too quickly and he saturated his market with
too many products, thereby causing a decline in quality and, eventually,
demand. His early prints, in mint condition, are considered valuable
today because they are some of the best representational art of
his era and because Mucha earned an important place in European
art history.
