Through Jan. 3, 2021, the Reading Public Museum is presenting, “Alphonse Mucha: Master of Art Nouveau,” which includes more than 70 original works by the artist many consider the creator of the Art Nouveau style. From 1895 to 1910, Alphonse Mucha (1860–1939) was one of the most significant artists in all of Europe.
His work became synonymous with the international Art Nouveau style, popularly called "le style Mucha" in Paris at the turn of the century. With a focus on the works created during the 1890s, this exhibition shows a creative man exploring possibilities when the emphasis was on defining a new art, fit for the new century. Mucha's designs for posters, calendars, books and advertising labels circulated widely throughout Europe and America, and his Art Nouveau style dominated visual culture and graphic design for years. Highlights of the exhibition include four versions of a monumental poster Mucha created in 1894 for actress Sarah Bernhardt’s play “Gismonda” and two posters advertising Job cigarette papers (1896 and 1898). The exhibition features advertising posters for Cycles Perfecta bicycles, as well as original drawings, an oil painting, and examples of magazine covers and illustrations.
“Alphonse Mucha: Master of Art Nouveau” includes vintage lithographs, original drawings, paintings, books, advertising ephemera, and more. Works and objects in this exhibition are drawn from the holdings of the Dhawan Collection, Los Angeles, one of the largest and finest collections of Alphonse Mucha’s work in the United States.
“Alphonse Mucha: Master of Art Nouveau” is organized by Landau Traveling Exhibitions, Los Angeles, Calif., and has been presented at the Dayton Art Institute, Dayton, Ohio; The Memorial Art Gallery, Rochester, N.Y., and the Hyde Collection, Glens Falls, N.Y.; among others.
The exhibition is made possible through the generous support of the Marlin and Ginger Miller Exhibition Endowment.
The Reading Public Museum is located at 500 Museum Road, Reading, Pa.
To learn more, call 610-371-5850.