The Art Nouveau Line

Follow the line before reading the label.

In the Mucha plates gathered here, the drawn line gives the image its rhythm. Hair, fabric and ornament guide the eye around the figure. A reproduction makes those small decisions available for a slower reading than a street would allow.

A frame should leave the printed edge intact. Before choosing a format, inspect the whole scan, including any border that belongs to the source. The artwork page keeps that view alongside the source link.

The French wing brings these plates into conversation with other poster makers. Compare the handling of the figure and the space around the text. The differences are part of the pleasure of collecting across a school.