Sarah Bernhardt

The Parisian actress Sarah Bernhardt was the single most influential figure in Mucha’s life as an artist. It was his first poster for her, Gismonda, that made him famous. He grew both as a man and an artist through his professional collaboration and friendship with the greatest stage personality of the era. The collaboration between Mucha and Sarah Bernhardt was mutually beneficial. Mucha’s posters immortalised the ‘divine’ image of the actress, consolidating her iconic status. For her part, Bernhardt was so enamoured of Mucha’s work that, after 1896, she made use of his designs for all posters advertising her American tours. This promoted Mucha’s work and helped him secure a foothold to explore a new career in the United States after 1904. "The divine Sarah" died exactly 90 years ago.