The Twelve Months of the Year by Alphonse Mucha, 1860-1939

Alphonse Mucha, 1860-1939
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The Twelve Months of the Year

A complete set of twelve lithographs printed in full colours (six from the set illustrated above). Printed in the form of postcards before text. 1899/1900. Printed at the studio of Champenois, Paris 1900. Issued in the series:
Cartes Postales Artistiques, 2ème série, 1900. Rare as a complete set.
Ref: Mucha-Henderson - The Graphic Work of Mucha page 119 , illustrated plate xxxvii

Extremely bright fresh impressions with excellent unfaded colours. On stiff cream postcard. Generally excellent condition; a slight restored nick in the top left margin corner of 'August' and 'July', tiny traces of old spot glue on the reverse. Card size: 3 1/2 x 5 1/2ins. Image diameter: 3 3/8ins (86mm). Sold as a set.

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Mucha worked on the theme of the 'Months of the Year' on a number of occasions; it inspired some of his most beautiful compositions. This series was drawn as a set of small-scale postcards (in full colour lithography) to be issued as a part of the series of sets of 'art postcards' being printed and issued by Champenois. It is very scarce as a complete matched set.

Mucha was the key artist in the establishment of Art Nouveau style in Paris at the fin-de-sièle. Of him it has been justly written that his 'delicately sensuous style epitomises the urbane grace of French Art Nouveau' (M.Henderson). He had a feeling of line, colour and rhythm of composition which perfectly echoed the spirit of the age.

Whilst the themes of his art may have been frivolous and deliberately light-hearted and elegant, his approach to his work was totally serious and dedicated. He was also absolutely instrumental in establishing the art of the colour lithograph and in changing, with Cheret, the whole concept of the illustrated poster. His design for Gismonda for Sarah Bernhardt marked a total revolution in this art form. The success of the posters led Mucha and Champenois, his printer, to develop his graphic art through other forms, decorative panels, calendars, and art postcards, as here.