Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Art nouveau
Prague is the best Art Nouveau town in Europe, with fun-lov-
ing facades gracing streets all over town. Art Nouveau, born
in Paris, is “nouveau” because it wasn't
inspired by Rome. It's neo-nothing...a
fresh answer to all the revival styles of
the later 19th century and an organic
response to the Eiffel Tower art of
the Industrial Age. The style liberated
the artist in each architect. Notice the
unique curves and motifs express-
ing originality on each Art Nouveau
facade. Artists such as Alfons Mucha
believed that the style should include
all facets of daily life. They designed
everything from buildings and furni-
ture to typefaces and cigarette packs.
Prague's three top Art Nouveau architects are Jan Koula,
Josef Fanta, and Osvald Polivka (whose last name sounds like
the Czech word for “soup”). Think “Cola, Fanta, and Soup”—
easy to remember and impress your local friends.
Prague's Art Nouveau highlights include the facades
lining the streets of the Jewish Quarter, the Jerusalem
Synagogue, the Mucha window in St. Vitus Cathedral, and
the Grand Hotel Evropa on Wenceslas Square. The top two
sights for Art Nouveau fans are the Mucha Museum and the
Municipal House.
the second is two blocks farther up Na Příkopě, next to the big,
Gothic Powder Tower.
ss
Mucha Museum
—his is one of Europe's most enjoyable little
museums. I find the art of Alfons Mucha (MOO-kah, 1860-1939)
insistently likeable. See the crucifixion scene he painted as an
eight-year-old boy. Read how this popular Czech artist's posters,
filled with Czech symbols and expressing his people's ideals and
aspirations, were patriotic banners that aroused the national spirit.
And check out the photographs of his models. With the help of an
abundant supply of slinky models, Mucha was a founding father of
the Art Nouveau movement. Partly overseen by Mucha's grandson,
the museum is two blocks off Wenceslas Square and wonderfully
displayed on one comfortable f loor (120 Kč, daily 10:00-18:00,
well-described in English, Panská 7, tel. 224-233-355, www.mucha
.cz). The included 30-minute video is definitely worthwhile (in
English, generally at :15 and :45 past the hour—ask for the starting
time); it describes the main project of Mucha's life—the
Slav Epic,
currently on display in Moravský Krumlov (see page 222).
• Coming back to Na Příkopě and continuing toward the Powder Tower,
