Artist: ALPHONSE MUCHA (1860-1939)
Size: 13 3/8 x 23 1/8 in./34 x 58.8 cm
Condition: A. Framed.
Printer: Lit. Th. Böhm, Nové, Mesto nad Metuji
Reference: Rennert/Weill, 93, Var. 1; Lendl/Prague, p. 265; PAI-LXXIX, 403
Key Words: Art Nouveau; Artist: Mucha

Slavia. 1907.
Slavia, the heritage symbol of the Slavic peoples of Eastern Europe, occupies the same function as Uncle Sam does for Americans—but we can all agree she's much younger, prettier, and more elegant than old Sam. “Mucha’s model for the ‘typical Slav’ is, strangely enough, an American girl. He was asked to do this poster while living in the United States, and he chose for it a variant of his portrait of Josephine Crane Bradshaw, daughter of his millionaire friend Charles R. Crane who eventually became his patron and the sponsor of the monumental Slav Epic project. Slavia holds a ring in her hand which symbolizes unity... and there are two stylized peace doves on the arm rests of the hidden throne she is sitting on; but just in case, she also has a sword in her lap, the message being that the Slav is peaceful by nature but will fight when attacked." Here, Slavia is merely encouraging you to buy insurance from the Mutual Insurance Bank of Prague. But she has a bright future in store. "This was one of Mucha’s favorite designs, and was used again on a Czech 100-korun note issued in 1920, and finally on a stained glass window for St. Vitus Cathedral” (Rennert/Weill, p. 322).