The Arts: Music* by Alfons Mucha

The poetic aesthetic of the turn of the century is fully expressed in this refined print by the master Alphonse Mucha, leading figure of Art Nouveau. The artist harmoniously integrates the imposed title “The Arts: Music” at the heart of a symbolist reflection dedicated to celestial bodies. This decorative lithography perfectly illustrates the painter’s feminine ideal, where grace and mystery mingle in a circular composition of great visual refinement.

A young dark-haired woman is seated facing forward, her eyes raised to the sky in an attitude of gentle contemplative daydreaming. She delicately raises her arms to caress her long wavy hair which falls on her shoulders in silky curls. Her draped dress of immaculate white emphasizes the purity of her pose while a pink ribbon crosses her silhouette. Behind her unfolds a large circular halo decorated with twelve discs each containing a sparkling star. On the left side, a very dark bush with delicate branches where joyful little birds are perched brings a natural, pastoral and melancholy touch under a magnificent salmon-tinted sky.

This work bears witness to Mucha’s extraordinary technical mastery in rendering textile materials and feminine hair. The outline drawing is of an admirable sharpness, while the pastel shades of the lithography create an enveloping nocturnal atmosphere. The artist here demonstrates his genius of ornamental composition.