MUCHA

Before I begin to praise the artistic work of Alphonse Mucha, let me tell you about a work created by an artist in our midst. (This is an unsolicited testimonial.)

Bonnie Shipley Peele, a friend of my family and life-long buddy of my daughter, Diane, has created a marvelous little book.

"Tails of a Squirrel and a Fish" has an appealing story with beautiful illustrations by Bonnie herself.

I downloaded a copy to my Kindle so that I can look at it again and again. As a child, I pestered my mother over and over to read "A Child's Garden of Verses," and "Scampy" and to show me the illustrations. So, it will probably be like that with this book.  

I highly recommend its purchase this Christmas and Hanukkah season. I guarantee that your future reading sessions with your child will be rewarding for both of you.

MR. MUCHA

You can call him "moosha," "mookah," "moocha," or any other pronunciation.  I prefer "moocha."

Alfons Maria Mucha was born in 1860 in what would probably now be called "The Czech Republic." He had a natural artistic ability, augmented by study in Vienna and Paris.

He began his adult artistic career by designing a much-loved poster for Sarah Bernhardt in 1896.

I don't have the Bernhardt poster, but I do have another work from 1896.

ZODIAC was designed as an in-house calendar for his printer's company.

It shows a beautiful girl within a halo of the twelve zodiac signs.

Mucha created so much wonderful and "modern" art work that by 1900, Parisians were calling the current artistic era "In the Mucha Style."  This was later changed to "The Art Nouveau Period."

One of his "later" (1911) works shows a brooding Princess Hyacinth (Princezna Hyacinta):

This was to advertise "a fairy-tale ballet and pantomime" by Nedbal and Novak.  

A few years ago, I casually entered a "Print Shop" in Towson, Maryland and was astounded to see hundreds of framed Mucha posters. Unfortunately for me, even the smallest item was too costly for me to purchase.  I hope to revisit the shop.

In my opinion, both of my Elaines could have been beautiful zaftig models for Mr. Mucha.

........................................................................

Go, and find female beauty, it's everywhere.