How a mission to introduce the world to Bosnia-Herzegovina changed the course of Alphonse Mucha’s life.
Alphonse Mucha (1860-1939) was a Czech artist who first made his name crafting fantastical images of beautiful women for advertising campaigns.
Around the time this 1899 poster for Moet champagne was made, Mucha won a well-paid commission to decorate Bosnia-Herzegovina’s pavilion at the 1900 World’s Fair in Paris.
The expo was a showcase of technical achievements and cultures from 40 countries, who built pavilions for the event.
Before the expo opened, Mucha was provided with a rail pass to travel through Bosnia to research his assignment. He later wrote: “I was not only very satisfied with my journey but also amazed. What I had been looking for so hard all this time I found among the Balkan Slavs.”
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Author: Amos Chapple