Zdenka Cerny by Alfons Mucha

The lyricism of music and the grace of plastic arts merge harmoniously within this print of great melodic delicacy. Under the inspired brush of the creator Alphonse Mucha, this poetic work entitled “Zdenka Cerny” honors instrumental practice. This work reflects the constant search for softness and formal elegance specific to the European Art Nouveau movement at the end of the century.

A woman with dark hair pinned up in a bun is represented sitting in profile, turned towards the left of the image. Dressed in a white dress trimmed with refined lace on the neckline and sleeves, she holds a bow and plays a large dark wooden cello. Her right hand skims the sheet music placed on a wooden music stand in front of her, while her face displays a serene concentration. Behind her head, a circular white halo decorated with discreet arabesques appears on a light ochre background. In the foreground, large stylized white leaves overlap elegantly with the body of the instrument.

Technical virtuosity is expressed in the subtle treatment of shadows on the garment and the delicate modeling of the moving hands. The ability to integrate whitened plant motifs in the foreground demonstrates a completely exceptional sense of decorative composition. The whole exudes a soothing harmony.