It’s week five of our Kansas sesquicentennial series and we’re celebrating the unofficial start of the Art Nouveau movement by taking a closer look at our own Art Nouveau Collection.
“On January 1, 1895, Czech artist Alphonse Mucha debuted a poster he designed for Sarah Bernhardt in Gismonda. The legendary Sarah and the public adored it, and its phenomenal success made Mucha a celebrity. Alphonse Mucha did not create Art Nouveau, but his work, especially as a poster artist, came to symbolize the full flowering of the style and the era.” [1]
About 52 for 150
Every object has a story, and stories build history. To celebrate 150 years of Kansas statehood we’re featuring 52 objects (or collections of related objects)—something new each week throughout the year—from the Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library’s 130-year-old special, and permanent collections, that represent our collective state history and cultural diversity.
Our collections are available for teachers, students, researchers and general interest, and we hope this online video program will provide insight into what’s so “special” about Special Collections. Your library’s commitment to collecting art and preserving local history makes it possible for users today and in the future to have immediate access to invaluable research material and cultural artifacts.
To learn more about our Art Nouveau Collection, or for help finding books and video about this topic, call or stop by the Sabatini Gallery (785-580-4515). We’re located on your right just beyond the Library rotunda entrance.
[1] http://www.lib.udel.edu/ud/spec/exhibits/treasures/01_arts.html