170 / 242
ALPHONSE MUCHA (1860-1939)
156
●
L’HABITATION PRATIQUE. Magazine
cover. Circa 1905.
15x12
1
/
2
inches, 38x31
3
/
4
cm. L. Ruckert et Cie, [Paris.]
Condition A-: minor time-staining and small
repaired tears in margins; painted seal in lower
margin; slight fading in image. Matted and framed.
The magazine used Mucha’s 1903 design as its cover
illustration from 1904 to the end of 1910. “The name
of the engraver ‘L. Ruckert et Cie Sc.’ appeared in
1905 and disappeared in June 1906. In 1920, the
newspaper changed its name to
L’Habitation Moderne”
(http://richet.christian.free.fr/habitat/habitat.html).
Grand Palais L. 68, Mucha / Bridges R36 (var),
Spirit of Art Nouveau 62.
[400/600]
ALPHONSE MUCHA (1860-1939)
155
●
L’ESTAMPE MODERNE / GRAVURES EN COULEURS. 1898.
33x23
3
/
4
inches, 83
3
/
4
x60
1
/
4
cm. F. Champenois, Paris.
Condition A: minor repaired tear at lower left edge. Framed. Unexamined out of frame.
To promote sales of
L’Estampe Moderne
, F. Champenois wanted a quick and inexpensive solution. He turned
to Alphonse Mucha and the image the master had already designed for the cover of each month’s portfolio.
The image was easy to reproduce, as it used only one color; Champenois enlarged it and added text about the
publication. The simplicity of the printing should by no means belittle the elegance of the elongated portrait
of a woman holding a pen. The image is an example of Mucha’s prowess as a draughtsman. Rennert / Weill
38 (var 1), Gold 88, Mucha / Henderson p. 123 (var), Mucha / Bridges R10a (var), Reade 10 (var), Spirit of
Art Nouveau p. 25 (var).
[1,000/1,500]
155
157
156