Alphonse Mu Cha's Artistic Style and Art Nouveau Movement.

Even though I have never heard the name of alfons Mu Cha, I have seen his paintings more or less.

There are elegant and fresh colors, decorative garlands, flying long hair and intricate plant patterns in the painting. These rich naturalistic decorations and abstract elements present a combination of metaphor, symbol and reality.

For example, this group of flower series lithographs named Iris, Lily, Dianthus and Rose are loved by many art lovers.

? Flower series lithographs

As we all know, alfons Mu Cha is a Czech artist who was active at the end of 19.

Both Natsume's contemporaries and the younger generation who regard him as the benchmark of Art Nouveau all think that it is luck that makes Natsume.

Because he was lucky enough to make friends with Ms. sarah bernhardt, the most eye-catching star in the Parisian art world at that time, at the same time, the fine plastic arts expression of the poster also contributed to his success.

Lithography of sarah bernhardt Day

? Feather magazine, 1896

To understand Natsume's gorgeous and graceful artistic style, we should start with his posters.

Praise beauty

The prosperity of poster art began with the publication of "Keith Mengda" at the end of 1894, which is a two-meter-high color lithograph poster.

Sarah bernhardt's Modeling and Photography in Keith Mengda

? A remake of a painting by Xia Delang, 1896.

"Keith Meng Da" adopts a vertical layout, which can not only show the whole body of the characters, but also naturally show the tall image of Keith Meng Da.

Planarization is a feature of this work. Natsume doesn't pursue the depth of space, so she uses visual effects to push the heroine in the picture to the audience.

The posture of the characters in the poster comes from a representative scene in the play.

In the Easter parade, Gismonda wore gorgeous clothes and palm leaves in her hand, with a solemn expression.

Keith Menda, lithograph

? 1894

The embroidered fur shawl hangs straight down, showing her broad shoulders, in contrast to the jumping pattern on the skirt, occupying the lower part of the poster.

The only figure is located in the center of the picture, and there are figures on the poster, including the name of the performance, the heroine and the information of the performance place.

The arch in the picture seems to give the heroine a halo, further highlighting her solemn and fair face. This technique of expression has appeared many times in Hou's works. The decorative patterns here refer to Byzantine mosaics inlaid with gold coins.

In this way, realism and imitation of traditional styles appear in a work at the same time, and the two are perfectly integrated to produce a new aesthetic feeling.

Sarah bernhardt's La Traviata stills

? 1880, photography

Sarah herself, critics and audience were deeply impressed by Natsume's poster art. Sarah and Natsume got along very well, so they collaborated for the second time-La Traviata.

Poster of La Traviata, lithograph

? 1896, Muxia Foundation

Natsume is an expert in the creation of La Traviata. He adopted the composition of Keith Meng Da, but the palm leaves were replaced by camellia branches. The heroine's facial expression froze, but the white skirt danced lightly.

It is worth mentioning that the decoration of this work lies not in the costumes of the characters, but in the poetic background.

Roses make up the sky, the picture is covered with silver stars, and the white figure of Margaret Gautier emerges on the paper.

Rhythm of lines

If you have seen the exhibition of Natsume's works, you will be deeply impressed by the soft body, thick and smooth hair, light skirt or decorative patterns around the wide or dense skirt, which constitute the image language of Natsume.

Dream, decorative board, lithograph

? 1897, Muxia Foundation

Natsume creates a sense of vitality and fluency through exaggerated lines, and uses the existing female images and plant elements to create an Arab-style decorative art world.

Hair Treatment, which depicts a woman's hair as a decorative pattern, has also become a symbol of his work and shines brilliantly.

From 65438 to 0897, Feather magazine, which gave Natsume great support, commissioned Natsume to draw a calendar.

Therefore, Natsume created an extremely delicate and beautiful oriental girl: her slim silhouette shows a Sultan princess sitting quietly on the threshold of the golden hall of Mishap or Golconda.

Constellation, lithograph calendar

? 1897

The young woman in the painting is half naked, sideways, wearing a lot of oriental jewelry, and the symbols of the twelve constellations surround her face.

Natsume depicts the fictional beauty's long hair with ever-changing curves. The more exaggerated the end of the hair, the more she draws a photo frame with plant patterns.

This work is full of decorative and poetic sexiness, which is better than all the works before Natsume.

Making smooth hair into Arabic patterns also gave birth to commercial posters.

For example, it appeared on the working cigarette paper designed by 1897 Natsume. This commercial poster was regarded as a masterpiece as soon as it came out.

Work circle cigarette paper, lithograph poster

? 1897, Muxia Foundation

Natsume painted a bust of a woman. She looked listless and hid behind her intricate hair.

Hair forms a decorative net, and smoke rises from cigarettes in women's hands. The two complement each other and blend in with the mosaic background full of Byzantine customs.

Natsume is the first person to show the function of consumer goods so sexily.

Among other commodity posters, Natsume returned to the poster form designed for Sarah, full of symbolic beauty and images.

If it weren't for the letters on the poster, it might be difficult for us to understand the message of the advertisement.

Posters and lithographs from Monaco to Monte Carlo

? 1897, Muxia Foundation

For example, this "From Monaco to Monte Carlo" was designed by Natsume on behalf of Paris-Lyon-Mediterranean Railway Company and was created at 1897.

At the turn of the century, the Paris-Lyon-Marseille Railway Company was once synonymous with "going on holiday".

The mountains in the background suggest the destination of the train, the blue coast, which only occupies a small part of the picture.

The young woman in the painting stares at the top, with her chin in her hands, absorbed in the scenery in front of her. She obviously represents spring.

However, if we look further, we will find the details of conveying advertising information.

For example, the large plant wreath located on the diagonal of the poster is like a train wheel running at full speed on the track, which is in line with the theme of the railway company.

Long history and idealism.

As a poster designer, Natsume is good at highlighting the outlines of people and objects and using exquisite and bright colors. These methods can simplify the image effectively.

Muxia selfie

? 1896

But he bid farewell to this creation for the time being, because he got a unique opportunity to design the wall decoration for the Bosnia and Herzegovina Pavilion of the 1900 Paris World Expo.

The exhibition hall is an idyllic farmhouse-style building with Turkish style, dark gray tower, red roof, protruding Arabic window grille, vault corridor and blue walls inlaid with mosaic patterns. The unique color scheme is fascinating.

Through this opportunity, Natsume put his artistic talent in a broader place, and his historical paintings almost reached the most outstanding level in history.

Murals of Bosnia and Herzegovina Pavilion (Part)

1900 Paris World Expo, oil painting.

? Musee d 'Orsay, Paris

A few days later, he completed the first draft of the design:

"The main body of the wall decoration is three long scrolls of paintings, covering the wall of the whole hall. The mural at the bottom is covered with floral patterns, the mural in the middle is wider and tells the history of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the mural at the top is based on Bosnian legends. "

Murals of Bosnia and Herzegovina Pavilion (Part)

1900 Paris World Expo, oil painting.

? Musee d 'Orsay, Paris

This long historical scroll consisting of 12 paintings begins with three paintings reflecting prehistoric civilization and ends with three groups of people reflecting various religious beliefs in Bosnia. This group of paintings shows Natsume's rich inner world, and also gives people a glimpse of his childlike heart for the country.

Because it is also based on history and reality, many people associate the Slavic Epic, a large-scale painting of Xiamu, with the decorative murals of the Bosnia and Herzegovina Pavilion.

Natsume is drawing the sixth work of Slavic epic.

King Etienne Duchamp of Serbia was crowned emperor.

? 1924

However, in fact, Slavic epic has nothing to do with the style under the wood.

"Under the wood style" refers to the description of people and plants with Arabic flowers, and the integration of the two.

This style is obviously not suitable for narrative painting, and its meaning is vague and not everyone can understand it.

Therefore, in order to make the narrative of the picture clear and easy to understand, aesthetic skills must be abandoned.

Slavs in primitive land, oil paintings on canvas and egg-colored paintings.

Slavic epic, 1

? 19 12, Muxia Foundation

Natsume's expression of Slavic epic combines realism, romanticism and symbolism, even though he knows that from an aesthetic point of view, it is difficult for the audience to accept a series of paintings on the same theme, and this classical method is not popular with modern art.

Introducing Slavic Ritual into the Great Moravian Empire

The third work of Slavic epic

? 19 12, Muxia Foundation

"I hope something with lofty ideals can appear here, echoing under the dome like the melody of an organ."

This belief guides Natsume.

The creation of Slavic epic began in 19 10 (i.e. the end of the reign of Austria-Hungary), and ran through the whole World War II, and was completed in 1928 as a gift for the tenth anniversary of Czechoslovakia.

Russia abolished serfdom, oil painting on canvas and egg painting.

Slavic epic 19

? 19 14, Muxia Foundation

The whole group of paintings consists of twenty giant paintings. Natsume selected a series of historical figures and events to review the history of Slavs.

In order to complete this magnificent creation, Natsume used a lot of photography techniques. He traveled all over the Balkans and Eastern Europe, and made on-the-spot investigations on Slavs' history, culture and costumes, and recorded them with photos.

They constitute a rich documentary material library, which provides great help for the design of figures, clothes and decorations.

The model posed for Olandina's oath under the Slavova tree.

? 1925 rpm 1926, Muxia Foundation

Some of these photos were taken in the studio, where the scenes needed for the picture were set, and some photos were taken in strict accordance with the traditional methods of academic school.

Through the performance of male and female models, Natsume not only grasped the body language of the main characters, but also observed the emotional expression of the characters, making the picture lifelike.

Orandina vows, oil paintings on canvas, and egg-colored paintings under the Slavic tile tree.

Slavic epic 18

? 1926, Muxia Foundation

This Slavic epic is the painstaking work of Natsume. He is eager to unite his Slavic compatriots spiritually and believes that the enlightenment power of art can promote the progress of human nature.

Natsume and Art Nouveau Movement

At the beginning of the 20th century, among the "Art Nouveau" styles popular in Paris, alphonse Mu Cha shined brilliantly and was sought after by people.

His large murals, celebrity posters, color illustrations and other works are all very individual, with elegant lines, rich colors and sweet characters. Therefore, Natsume deserves to be the pioneer of the Art Nouveau movement.

In this well-documented and beautifully illustrated book, Philip Thiebaud reviews Xia Renren's creative career and his story with Art Nouveau artists at that time from the aspects of painting, posters, illustrations, furniture and jewelry.

Natsume and Art Nouveau Movement

Philip Thiebaud [France]

February 2020

Huazhong university of science and technology press-the beauty of books

? The interesting and knowledgeable Muxia is integrated with the Art Nouveau movement.

There are 18 artists headed by Czech national treasure artist Natsume, and more than 100 full-color classic works of Art Nouveau, immersed in the "brand-new art" born for the new era.

? Famous French art historians and curators write passionately.

The former curator of Orsay Museum wrote that paintings, posters, illustrations, furniture, jewelry ... reviewed Xia Mu's creative career in different categories, vividly restored the ups and downs of this master of art's life.

? The ingenious combination of biography and artistic appreciation

Detailed literature, to ensure academic significance, all-inclusive content, reproduction of inspiration, an overview of modern design pioneer experiments.

? Gifts for western art and wood lovers.

16 Open the hardcover portable pocket book, absorb artistic nutrients anytime and anywhere, and echo the upsurge of exhibitions under wood that are popular all over the country. It is an excellent introductory book for new art lovers.