Alphonse Mucha, Primrose, 1899

Alphonse Mucha (Czech, 1860–1939) was a leading Art Nouveau artist. At the time of Primrose, he was so successful that Art Nouveau and 'le style Mucha' nearly had become synonymous words. Alphonse Mucha wanted to inspire and elevate the viewer. The beautiful women, the decorative use of flowers and hair, the subtle colors, everything is aimed at creating a compelling harmony of vision. Mucha also felt the importance of making art available for a wider public. Primrose and other of his panels (posters without text) can be be seen as a prototype for today's affordable art posters.