The “New Art” Movement

Art Nouveau, meaning “New Art” in French, developed in the late 1800’s, lasting until the First World War. The movement got its name from a shop in Paris called La Maison de l'Art Nouveau, whose customers and workers fostered modern ideas in art. In reaction to classical, studied art practices, Art Nouveau reached the scene as a way to bridge the gap between the Arts and Crafts movement and organic, artistic Symbolism that was rising in popularity during the 1880’s. The images that forever come to mind when thinking of the term Art Nouveau involve pictures by Czech artist, Alphonse Mucha and the iconic winding wrought-iron entrances to the Parisian metro.

What makes Art Nouveau truly a “new” art is the distinct departure from studied art, for some of the most famous pieces that came from this early 20th century movement are not paintings, but glass-work, furniture, and architecture, things that were rarely given much importance in the art world. The incredible genius of Hector Guimard transformed Paris with his curvilinear, plant-inspired metro entrances, numerous street signs, cafes, and buildings. The Hotel Mezzara, now used as an exhibition gallery to promote young emerging artists, stands as a lasting memory of Guimard’s uniquely popular style. As you walk inside, a winding staircase with iron railing snaking up to the top floor greets you. If you look up, the dazzling glass dome ceiling shines brightly, promoting beautifully it’s new style.

The element of glass work used by Guimard was employed by another popular Art Nouveau artist whose name is known the world over.

Charles Lewis Tiffany, founder of Tiffany and Company, was one of the leading glass makers, whose production of stained-glass lamps became synonymous with the Art Nouveau style. Natural designs that featured irregularly shaped borders required the highest level of skill to create and by 1900, Tiffany was perhaps the most acclaimed producer of glass objects in the world. With prices ranging between $10,000 for a simple single color shade to over a million dollars for the most rare even today, his creations are still some of the most prized and collected in the world.

The Art Nouveau movement would not be complete without it’s most memorable painter. Alphonse Mucha arrived in Paris in 1895, producing a lithograph poster for the play Gismonda, starring Sarah Bernhardt. With this image, Mucha became an overnight sensation, dubbing his style of Style Mucha, later to be known as Art Nouveau.

Mucha’s style was based on a strong composition, sensuous plant-like curves, detailed decorative elements and natural colors. As his fame grew throughout Europe and the world, his designs began showing up in all corners of the art world. He published graphics for magazines, created sets for performances, and painted portraits commissioned by wealthy U.S. patrons.

A theme Mucha liked and repeated many times was of great commercial appeal and became somewhat of a staple for the artist. He painted sets of four images around a central theme--such as the four times of day, four flowers, or the four seasons, as seen below.

Images like these are not only iconic of the modern art movement that took place in the early 20th century, but have an aesthetic appeal that transcends time. The continual pleasure of Mucha and others’ pictures has given a certain impressive quality to the Art Nouveau genre, that, even today, can hold its own in the greater art world.

Written and researched by Taylor Maatman

MIR Appraisal Services, Inc.
307 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 308
Chicago, IL 60601

Phone: (312) 814-8510

Works cited:

http://aroundtheworld.phileas-fogg.net/art-nouveau/paris.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_Nouveau

http://www.bpib.com/illustrat/mucha.htm

Alphonse Mucha and the Art of the Poster

The Rise of the Poster
Printing techniques developed by Johann Gutenberg in the middle of the 15th Century made mass communication distribution possible, but it took a further development centuries later to turn the medium of the poster into the visually appealing art form that it is today. The invention of lithography towards the end of the 18th century made mass production of color posters of intricate design possible, and it was not long before artists began to experiment with the previously commercial form. Jules Cheret started producing color lithographs in 1866, reinventing the medium and finally giving artists sound examples of how these modern printing techniques could be artistically innovative and reach the masses at the same time. Soon similar posters incorporating bold colors and lively subjects started popping up all over Paris and eventually the rest of Europe. Their bold colors and unique designs were instantly recognized and many of these advertisements posted on the street quickly disappeared and found a new home in their rogue collectors’ flats.

Alphonse Mucha: Art Nouveau Innovator and Patriot
Along with Cheret, the name of Alphonse Mucha is most commonly associated with the 19th century birth of the artistic poster. Mucha is not only considered a remarkable printmaker but a stylistic innovator, helping greatly to create and define the Art Nouveau aesthetic. His Art Nouveau credentials are so sound that it is rumored his distinct lines and stylized hair heavily influenced Guimard’s world famous Metro entrances in Paris. This design is so remarkable that even the city of Chicago has a replica on display outdoors in the Loop.

Mucha was born in the middle of the 19th century in the kingdom of Bohemia. Moving to Paris in 1890, the artist designed posters for events and commercial retailers alike, creating dozens of images instantly recognizable to the public today. Among the artist’s most remarkable designs are the advertisements for JOB cigarette papers and his renderings of French starlet Sara Bernhardt. His Art Nouveau style captured rich textures and patterns, creating sumptuous yet effortless renderings of beautiful women in airy classical attire.

The artist was constantly changing and eventually abandoned his successful lithographs in favor of painting. Unlike Cheret’s attempt however, Mucha’s transition into this new medium was much more successful. While historians such as John Barnicoat attribute this fact to the failing eye sight and old age of Cheret, the fact remains that the paintings of Mucha are still talked about today. His most memorable collection of works, the Slav Epic, is comprised of 20 very large canvases tracking the mythical progression of the Slavic people. This series, which was left to the people of Prague upon the artist’s death, had experienced years of neglect and has only just recently been reframed and hung. These pieces had been rolled up and forgotten for decades but it seems moves are finally being made to ensure that they are properly displayed in Mucha’s much loved city.


Popularity of Mucha
Inexpensive reproductions of his most famous posters are found in nearly every neighborhood poster store, but the difference between the real thing and the reproduction is remarkable. Given the printing techniques used by the artist his original pieces are much more delicate and rely on subtle coloring that is sensitive to light and climate damage, making original works as rare as they are valuable. Mucha’s work is sought after by collectors, and even made an appearance on an episode of Antiques Roadshow a couple of years ago. Despite the great damage that had been done to the piece over the years the conservative appraisal was in the thousands of dollars, with a work in more pristine condition being explained as even more valuable still. The artist’s work now adorns the walls of the world’s most chic bars and coffee houses, proving that the rich yet composed images Mucha created will not be forgotten any time soon.

Mucha at MIR
MIR has a great deal of experience working with lithographs of nearly every origin and even has a few original Mucha and Cheret posters in their Michigan Avenue office. Stunning examples of various sizes, they are all in good condition and display the very best the artists had to offer. They are available for viewing by appointment and are complimented by the many other examples of Art Nouveau artwork in MIR’s possession including dinnerware, statuary and jewelry.

Justin Bergquist
MIR Appraisal Services, Inc.
307 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 308
Chicago, IL 60601
(312) 814-8510

Works Cited:

Rosenzweig, Alexis and Ian Willoughby. “Grandson of Alphonse Mucha hoping Slav Epic Will

Finally Find Permanent Home in Prague,” in Cesky Rozhlas, 2008.

Barnicoat, John. “Poster” on Oxford Art Online.

Barnicoat, John. A Concise History of Posters. New York: Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 1972.

Lavallee, Michele. “Mucha, Alphonse” on Oxford Art Online.

Lowry, Nicholas. “Alphonse Mucha ‘JOB’ Poster,” on Antiques Roadshow, 24 June 2006.