Maude Adams as Joan of Arc, Alfons (Alphonse) Mucha.
Hearing The Voice.
Oil on canvas. Mucha designed the frame as well.
In the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Click “Fullscreen” under the image and then use zoom or download arrow.
Eye Candy for Today: Mucha’s Maude Adams
It’s a shame that this is displayed in what is practically a dark corner. Happy to see it here in it’s brilliance.
I haven’t seen it in its current place. Your comment reminds me that this gem once hung in a stairwell at the Philadelphia Museum of Art: http://www.philamuseum.org/collections/permanent/102792.html?mulR=25394|1
This is a painting screens, or ceramic crafts? This theme in China have made ceramic effect, rather than hand painting process.
I was all about comic books/Marvel artist back when young in 80’s and when I grew a bit in years/world view I gravitated mightily to Mucha, as had many pro. comic artist I have seen/read about over the years. Bold outlines and color…hatch work oils looking so close to ink etc.
Something I recognized about viewing Mucha paintings close is that some of the initial “magic” effect of sleekness etc. is lost to a degree. But, when you are an artist/painter yourself and see his technique and how complex these “simple” outlines and colors are, well, it makes it even more “magical” for me…I would suppose the same would be said by many others.
I agree with what Mark says about his work appearing “sleek” from a distance- I think that making a work look sleek from a distance without overworking it up close is indeed complex and magical!! Although Mucha and Mondrian are vastly different they share this quality – Mondrian’s works look like cut glass in textbooks but the one I have seen had this same thin brushstroke quality on a cheap looking canvas. Strange perception.