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ALPHONSE MUCHA (1860-1939)
218
●
PEVECKE SDRUZENI UCITELU MORAVSKYCH / [MORAVIAN TEACHER’S
CHOIR.] 1911.
42x30
1
/
2
inches, 106
3
/
4
x77
1
/
2
cm. V. Neubert Smichov, Prague.
Condition A-: minor repaired tears at edges; minor creases in margins and image; scratches in lower margin.
Framed. Unexamined out of frame.
“The Moravian Teachers’ Choir began as a small singing group of teachers and grew into a world
famous professional choral ensemble with a repertoire of classical, popular and folk music. Some of
the songs were composed by Leos Janacek, whom Mucha met in Brno as a choirboy” (Spirit of Art
Nouveau p. 176). The poster “depicts a young girl in a folk dress typical of the Moravian town of
Kyjov, with a dark blue embroidered apron worn over a red skirt. The red is repeated on her scarf and
on a geranium, a flower blooming in many cottage windows. The girl, sitting in the forked branches
of a tree, listens with great concentration to a singing bird” (ibid). “The idealized, ultra-elegant and
ethereally lovely Mucha maiden of his Paris period has been replaced by a pert, down-to-earth rustic
lass” (Rennert / Weill p. 336). The poster also appears with a bottom sheet depicting a photograph of
the choir as well as a printed schedule of performances. Grand Palais A68, Lendl p. 274, Brno 60,
Rennert / Weill 98, Mucha / Henderson 100, Mucha / Bridges A58,Triumph des Jugendstils 205,
Spirit of Art Nouveau 35, Darmstadt P68.
[4,000/6,000]