Deutsches Schauspiel-Haus Theater Program 1908

This theatre program by Alphonse Mucha is all about atmosphere, you can almost feel the warm breeze flowing through the piece. It's like he’s built a daydream using ochre, sage, and cream tones. I’m imagining Mucha at work in his studio, maybe he’s listening to music and he's layering color and texture to conjure this languid scene. The women are relaxed, almost reclining into the backdrop. They're wearing white dresses and sitting amongst creamy blossoms that mimic the folds and drapes of their dresses. See how the art nouveau frame melts into the composition, blurring the boundaries between the real world and the imagined space of the program? These kinds of illustrations have always reminded me of Klimt’s paintings. Both artists used the female form to evoke sensuality. There's a way in which the female figures and the background come together, it's less about the subject and more about the feeling it creates. I just love that blending. It’s so dreamy!