nouveau #6

“Mucha December”

"In 1899 Mucha created Designs for the Months, all rendered in circular medallions.  Our image was originally created for December, though in the several years following their creation, the images were sometimes used in publications for months different than the ones planned by Mucha.  Like “Summer”, this lithograph is from an original postcard.  The round shape offered a different dynamic and enabled Mucha to capture more movement and flow, even in a small format.  Our image is filled with subtle vibrancy in theme, colour, and atmosphere."

 

Paul Schmidt

  

design & work

woods and materials
woods and materials

"The classic curvilinear Nouveau shape fashioned of Mahogany in the center of the guitar is surrounded by Walnut and flanked by Redwood burl that picks up the textures of her hair and echos the voluptuous nature of the instrument’s shape, and the woman herself. The folds in the lithograph are reiterated in the light blue, light pink and orangish-pearl glass suspended over gold-leaf.  The medallion shape is repeated in the small pearl accents around the architecture of the center section and up through the fingerboard.  Forest green and butterscotch coloured pickups, rosewood knobs, a bone switch and an Amazon Rosewood bridge all accent the overall somewhat autumnal mood of softness, depth, and understated complexity of the instrument."

 

Paul Schmidt

 


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