ALPHONSE MUCHA L'AIGLON. 1900. 271/2x751/2 inches. Condition B+: paper loss and repaired tears along vertical and horizontal folds and in margins. In 1900, Mucha was busy working on projects for the 1900 World Exhibition, which would certainly have taken up much of his time. Yet he owed so much of his success to Sarah Bernhardt that it would have been nearly impossible for him to turn down a commission from the great actress. In this play, another in her repertoire written by her favorite author Edmond Rostand, Bernhardt once again played the role of a man: Napoleon's only son. The play was a great success, but for the first time in his career it seems Mucha was unable to produce a poster equal to the actress's great talents. Jiri Mucha (the artist's son) actually doubts whether the work is his father's despite the obvious signature beneath the portrait. It seems clear, judging by the delicate and elegant portrait of L'Aiglon (The Eaglet), featuring excellently rendered hair, hands and face, that Mucha drew the image. And yet "the poster does not have the feel of a Mucha work the craftsmanship, the attention to details, the flawless execution" (Rennert / Weill p . 394) making us think that Mucha did the drawing and then left the printing and final execution to someone else. This was the last time that Mucha collaborated with Sarah Bernhardt. Rennert / Weill A 10.
