Alphonse Maria Mucha

Alphonse Maria Mucha (1860–1939) was a Czech painter and decorative artist, the leading figure of the Art Nouveau movement. His work is defined by sinuous, ornamental line, rich color and images of young, alluring women — qualities regarded as the quintessence of Art Nouveau. Mucha elevated poster and decorative design, then considered applied art, to the level of fine art, and his mass-printed graphic works played a central role in bringing art into everyday life and shaping the emergence of modern art.