The Arts – Dance (1899) by Alphonse MuchaCentro Cultural Banco do Brasil Rio de Janeiro
Mucha's Art Theory
Mucha had a long teaching career. In Paris he taught at the Académie Colarossi and at James Mcneill Whistler's (1834 - 1903) Académie Carmen, and later in America at the Art Institute of Chicago as well as at art schools in New York and Philadelphia.
He was a popular teacher, with a clear vision concerning the roles of art and the artist and well-devised theories that had envolved from his experience as an artist and educator.
1918–1928: official poster celebrating the 10th anniversary of the founding of Czechoslovakia (1928) by Alphonse MuchaCentro Cultural Banco do Brasil Rio de Janeiro
His surviving lecture notes, which were compiled and published posthumously in 1975 as "Alphonse Mucha: Lectures on Art", give a glimpse of his artistic philosophy: the goal of art is the expression of "beauty", by which Mucha meant "moral harmonies"...
...the role of the artist is to arouse the interest of the viewer in the artist's message and "to communicate with the soul of man."
The "exterior form is a language" for this communication and so the artist should endeavour to create as affective a visual language as possible.
The Arts – Music (1899) by Alphonse MuchaCentro Cultural Banco do Brasil Rio de Janeiro
The Arts: Poetry
'The Arts' is a set of four colour lithographs printed on satin (1899). This particular series shows Mucha’s harmonious style of composition, later to be called a ‘Q formula’.
It incorporates a seated figure into a circular motif with the tail of drapery hanging down.
The Arts – Music (1899) by Alphonse MuchaCentro Cultural Banco do Brasil Rio de Janeiro
Music
By pairing each of the Arts with a natural motif — for example, birdsong alongside music — Mucha emphasises the contribution of nature to creative inspiration.
The Arts – Dance (1899) by Alphonse MuchaCentro Cultural Banco do Brasil Rio de Janeiro
Dance
Dance
The Arts – Painting (1899) by Alphonse MuchaCentro Cultural Banco do Brasil Rio de Janeiro
Painting
