All Over Albany

Alphonse Mucha: Master of Art Nouveau at The Hyde Collection

"Cycles Perfecta" by Alphonse Mucha, 1902, color lithograph on paper. Courtesy of the Dhawan Collection.

The touring exhibit Alphonse Mucha: Master of Art Nouveau opens this Sunday at The Hyde Collection. It includes more than 70 works by the graphic artist from a private collection.

Exhibit blurbage:

The exhibition examines how Mucha's work helped shape the aesthetics of French Art Nouveau at the turn of the century. Art Nouveau, or New Art, describes a style in architecture, and visual and decorative arts that flourished from the 1890s through 1910. It emphasized the beauty of natural forms in everyday life. Art Nouveau featured a sinuous or "whiplash" line, flattened space, and botanical shapes and patterns.

"Mucha's early work is centered on the epitome of beauty," said Jonathan Canning, director of curatorial affairs and programming at The Hyde Collection. "With use of subtle color schemes, lavish scrolling text, and exquisite women, he defined the Art Nouveau movement."

Many of the works in the exhibition feature beautiful women, dramatic curving lines, flowers, and plants. Mucha worked across many media and those are revealed in the exhibition, which includes lithographs, drawings, paintings, books, and advertisements.

The exhibit will be on display through March 18.

The Hyde Collection is, as you know, in Glens Falls, about an hour's drive from Albany. While you're there you can also check out the new Feibes & Schmitt Gallery, which opened last summer -- it features modern art collected by Werner Feibes and the late James Schmitt, both Schenectady residents.

Earlier: Day trip: Glens Falls