MUCHA, Alphonse
(b. 1860, Ivancice, d. 1939, Praha)

Moon and Stars

1902
Colour lithograph
Mucha Museum, Prague

Moon and Stars is a colour lithograph decorative panel comprising four portrait orientation panels in the French Art Nouveau style.

The stars are personified via beautiful semi-nude young female forms in flowing robes, illuminated by moonlight. Their dramatic poses, contemplative yet energised, are offset by still, decorative green borders comprising repetitive floral motifs.

Each female form holds a different pose; two making eye contact with the viewer and two looking away from the viewer. The earthy colour tones of greens and browns provide a dramatic contrast against the white moonlight glowing from within the composition.