JOB. ADOLPHE MUCHA

Czech painter, poster and graphic artist, illustrator and decorator Alphonse Mucha is universally renowned for his distinct style, which was termed “The Mucha Style” at first, but became known as “Art Nouveau”. Mucha became famous for designing an advertising poster for a play featuring Sarah Bernhardt, the most famous actress in Paris: the actress was so satisfied with the success of this first poster that she began a six-year contract with Mucha. Mucha designed two posters for Job. The first is this masterpiece of poster art: a charming, small-format piece featuring the bust of a woman with an exquisite arabesque of luxuriant hair: an entirely decorative element that became the artist's trademark over the next few years. The borders and the poster's title are designed to look like a mosaic; against the background, Mucha ingeniously utilizes a stylized version of the company's logo as another decorative element. The poster was used for years in many variants all over the world, sometimes with the marginal text in various languages, to promote Job cigarette rolling papers. Lithograph poster printed by Champenois, linen on Japan paper, linen backed, B+ condition (good condition of the image, reduced side margins; restored abrasions to the verso, restored little creases). Dimensions in inches: 22.4 x 15.3''.