SARAH BERNHARDT / LA PLUME. 1896. 28 3/4x20 7/8 inches. F. Chempenois. Condition B: creases throughout image; restoration and discoloration in left and right margins. At the end of 1896, La Plume<> decided to publish an article on Sarah Bernhardt (which came out in the very first issue of 1897). To promote the event they asked her favorite artist to design a poster. The result is a superb, textbook Art Nouveau image by Mucha at his best, in which he combines his favorite decorative elements: a halo, stars, byzantine motifs, overgrown stylized hair and flowers (in this case the tiara of lilies Bernhardt wore in one of her most successful plays, Princess Lointaine<>). In 1897 Mucha had a one man show of his work at La Plume<>. In a special issue of the magazine, which was dedicated to Mucha's work (#197, July 1897), which served as a catalogue of the exhibition, this poster is listed as #42. In the same catalogue four separate printing proofs of this poster are also listed (#43-46). The piece we offer here is a two color proof. We know that one or two have surfaced in the last 40 years, which simply means that La Plume<> sold them during the show. This corresponds to their policy of providing special, rare proofs to their collectors. Rennert/Weill, 21 (var), Mucha, A16 (var).
