ALPHONSE MUCHA (1860-1939) [LES FLEURS] / E • P A LA VIOLETTE. Four panel calendar. 1902.
Each 14 1/4x6 1/4 inches, 36 1/4x16 cm.
Condition varies, generally B+: minor tears, creases, abrasions and darkening at edges; metal grommet at top of each. Tipped to mat. Paper. Matted and framed. Unexamined out of frame.
"One of the fundamental premises of Art Nouveau was to look for inspiration in nature, and in The Flowers series, Mucha produced one of the best arguments for it" (Lendl p. 201). These four irresistible interpretations of flowers embody a combination of allure, strength and piety, and were so popular that they appeared over and over, in different variations and sizes both decorative and commercial. Rennert and Weill record five different variants, and this set constitutes a previously undocumented sixth variant. rare. This, the only known copy of this variant has not been offered at auction since it was purchased in 1989 from Poster Auctions International, sale IX lot 372. Rennert / Weill 49 (var), Lendl p. 202 & 203 (var), Mucha Grand Palais 84-87 (var), Darmstadt 82-85 (var), Mucha / Henderson 8 (var), Mucha / Bridges P9-12 (var), Spirit of Art Nouveau 50 (var).