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Alphonse Mucha

Decorative Artist

Mucha was well on the way to becoming a successful illustrator when fate singled him out on Christmas Eve 1894. The artist was doing a favour for a friend, correcting proofs at Lemercier’s printing works,  when Sarah Bernhardt called the printer
with an immediate demand for a new poster for her production of Gismonda. All Lemercier’s regular artists were on holiday, so he turned to Mucha in desperation. A demand from ‘la divine Sarah’ could not be ignored.

The poster which Mucha created revolutionised the poster design, launched ‘le style Mucha’ and established Mucha as the preeminent exponent of Art Nouveau. The next years were Mucha’s most productive years as a commercial artist.