Alfonse Mucha is known largely for having originated Art Nouveau, when his poster of the actress Sarah Bernhardt became a legendary icon of the movement. Mucha went on to design hundreds of pieces in the decorative arts field, but later distanced himself from the style he pioneered, devoting his time and energy to painting. This book presents the full array of Mucha's artistic contributions-not only his posters and jewelry designs but also his design for the pavilion of Bosnia and Herzegovina at the 1900 World's Fair. The book also includes his works on canvas, which include pastels and frescoes, and his magnum opus, The Slavic Epic, a series of 20 paintings depicting the history of his native people. A stunning selection of 700 color illustrations is accompanied with essays that explore Mucha's style and inspirations, his transition away from the decorative arts, and his forays into photography.

Published on the occasion of the exhibition held Feb. 12-June 1, 2009, Belvedere, Vienna, Austria ; June 20-Sept. 30, 2009, Musée Fabre, Montpellier, France ; and Oct. 9, 2009-Jan. 24, 2010, Kunsthalle der Hypo-Kulturstiftung Munich.

Line and form : the Mucha style /Jean Louis Gaillemin -- Here is where the flame of art glowed : Alphonse Mucha's Munich years (1885-1887) / Roger Diederen -- Musical ecstasy and fixing the gaze : Mucha and the culture of hypnosis / Arnauld Pierre -- The object according to Mucha / Olivier Gabet -- Mucha's photographic dramatizations / Dominique de Font-Réaulx -- Alphonse Mucha and the pavilion for the Ottoman provinces of Bosnia-Herzegovina at the Exposition universelle in Paris in 1900 / Alfred Weidinger -- The Slav epic : word and light / Lenka Bydézovská -- and Karel Srp -- Photography : the other side of Mucha / Tomoko Sato.