Mucha: The Triumph of Art Nouveau

Reproductions of Alphonse Mucha's Art Nouveau posters can still be found in college dorm-rooms, favored by those who prefer a soft romantic aesthetic. His curlicue lettering and borders of encroaching flora set off portraits of elegant and curvy models. His career took off with an early poster for Sarah Bernhardt, though after World War I he went out of artistic fashion, and was thought of as a designer and a stylist rather than as a fine artist. He sought to please his clients though, and faithfully churned out commercial designs and images, until Hitler's invasion of his beloved Prague. The Nazis were displeased by his non-Aryan leanings. Ellridge's biography is splendidly illustrated.