By Xinyi Li, EDITOR

On April 23, “Alfons Mucha, Pioneer of Art Nouveau” co-held by Chongqing China Three Gorges Museum and Museum of Decorative Arts (Umeleckoprumyslove Museum) of the Czech Republic opened at the Three Gorges Museum. 244 exhibits, including colored lithograph, oil painting, and photography, unveiled the characteristics of the Art Nouveau period of Europe. The exhibition also enabled the citizens to appreciate the art of Mucha, a master from the Czech Republic.

On April 23, “Alfons Mucha, Pioneer of Art Nouveau” of the Czech Republic opened at the Three Gorges Museum

Art Nouveau is an influential style of art in painting, sculpture, architecture, and indoor decorative arts in European and American regions from 1890 to 1910. It embraces a wide range of decorative style and widely adopts natural forms and structures, particularly the curved lines of plants and flowers. Alfons Mucha (1860-1939), from the Czech Republic, is the most representative artist and luminary of the Art Nouveau from the end of the 19th century to the early 20th century. His artworks involve illustrations, poster, paintings, and other fields. Mucha is also the designer of the first postage stamp, the first set of paper currency, and the national emblem with a white lion pattern of the Czech Republic.

Art Nouveau is an influential style of art in painting, sculpture, architecture, and indoor decorative arts in European and American regions from 1890 to 1910

Among all the exhibits, the “Stages of the Day” series of Morning Awakening, Brightness of Day, Evening Contemplation, and Night’s Rest, with a fresh yet delicate style, are attractive. In this series, Mucha has adopted the techniques of graphic design and cleverly set classical women within natural surroundings. Their postures are natural and well-balanced with exuberant floral motifs, holding elaborately ornamental charm. Gismonda, Princess Hyacinth, Champagne Ruinart, and other colored lithograph artworks also display the lithe and graceful postures of women, rendering beauty in various ways.

The artwork Princess Hyacinth

Address: Chongqing China Three Gorges Museum

Date: April 23-July 21

Ticket Price:

1. Full-price ticket: RMB 50 per person
2. Discounted ticket: RMB 30 per person for adolescents from 7 to 18  years old with a valid ID; teachers (with personal teacher certification); registered students of full-time bachelor degree or below (with valid personal student ID, which should be the original).
3. Ticket-free visitors: Children 6 years old or younger, or at/under 1.2 meters (accompanied with one adult, and an adult alone can take two ticket-free children at most); the elderly aging 65 or above with valid ID; military personnel in active service and military retired veterans; the disabled (with valid documents).

Source: Chongqing Daily News