JOB

Alphonse Mucha
JOB
lithograph
February 1900

February 1900

Original lithograph printed in colors on wove paper

Signed on the stone lower right Mucha.

A superb impression of the definitive state, from the edition on this paper (there was also a small edition on Japan paper). Transcribed from Mucha’s 1898 poster of the same title by artisans at Atelier Chéret and issued as plate 202 (of 256) in the series Le Maîtres de l’Affiche, bearing the blindstamp of the program (Lugt 1777c) in the sheet lower right. Published by Jules Chéret: printed at Impremiere Chaix (Atelier Chéret), Paris.

Catalog: Masters of the Poster pl. 202.

Size Image: 11 1/2 x 8 7/8 inches

Sheet Size: 15 1/2 x 11 3/8 inches

Framed Size: 24 1/2 x 20 1/2 x 1 1/2 inches

This is perhaps one of Mucha’s best-known advertising posters, with numerous editions subsequently published in a variety of formats for international markets. This poster established the iconic image of the ‘Mucha woman’ with her swirls of exaggeratedly abundant hair.
‘JOB’ is a trademark for the Joseph Bardou Company, manufacturers of cigarette papers.
In this poster, Mucha placed the prominent female figure against a background featuring Job monograms. Holding a lighted cigarette in her hand, the woman leans her head backward sensually, and the rising smoke forms an arabesque, intertwining with her hair and the company logo.
Mucha introduced a Byzantine effect, as seen in the Gismonda poster, with the border decoration inspired by mosaic work which adds an air of dignity to a commercial poster.
In 1898 Mucha produced another design for Job which is known as ‘great Job’.