Alphonse MUCHA (1860-1939) - Lot 40

Alphonse MUCHA (1860-1939) The West End Review, 1897 Chromolithograph. Not canvas-backed. Imp. Lemercier, Paris. Signed and dated lower left. Perfect condition. 40 x 32 cm Bibliography: Rennert / Weill, Mucha, p. 202, no. 50. Here we are confronted with a mystery! We know that, in 1898, this London magazine, obviously launched with considerable resources, commissioned Mucha to design a poster, which was printed by Lemercier in Paris in nine panels (218 x 307 cm) - his largest poster ever! (Rennert/Weill, Mucha, pp. 202-203, no. 50). The Complete graphic works, compiled by Anne Bridges (Academy Edition, London, 1980) , make no mention of a press cover illustrated by Mucha for this magazine. On the other hand, in Ivan Lendl's Alphonse Mucha catalog (Richard Fuxa Foundation & Nakladaks Estoi, Slovart, 2016, p. 138), the image is reproduced on the magazine cover with the price in the lower right-hand corner. But the copy we offer doesn't mention a price and is printed on strong paper with large margins... So it's a mystery and, of course, more than rare.