Alphons Mucha was born on 24 July 1860. His name is closely connected to the Art Nouveau movement and rightly so. Here's how it all started: Mucha, was originally from Prague and moved to Paris around 1887 where he struggled to get work as an artist.

On Christmas eve 1894, as most illustrators were on holiday, Mucha was filling in at a printing cie. Opportunity knocked! The printer received an urgent request from Sarah Bernhardt, the most notorious theater actress of that time, she needed advertising for her new play starting ten days later!

The printer had no choice but to ask young Mucha to draw an illustration. When Sarah saw the poster, she went nuclear! She embraced Mucha and offered him a six-year exclusive contract on the spot! On the black and white photo of Mucha taken years later, behind him on the wall, notice the poster that put him on the map...