Alphonse Mucha : La Beauté Art Nouveau

Exhibition at the Musée départemental breton, 18 June - 19 September 2021

The "Mucha style", emblematic of Art Nouveau, left its mark on fin-de-siècle Paris with its arabesque compositions, in which ideal female figures are combined with floral motifs in subtle colours. Behind his brilliant success in the French art world, however, there is a lesser known side to Alphonse Mucha. At the height of his fame, the Czech artist decided to use his talent to support his political commitment to the independence of his native country.

While offering a complete overview of his artistic and philosophical career, this exhibition catalogue examines in particular Mucha's visual language, the influence of regional folklore on him, especially that of the Czech Republic, and, for the first time, Mucha's relationship with Brittany. Mucha's interest in Breton folk art is reflected in his posters as well as in his quest to express a national identity.