Salon des Cent c.1896 by Alphonse Mucha – Iconic Art Nouveau Paris Exhibition Poster Wall Art

Salon des Cent – Alphonse Mucha’s Elegant 1896 Paris Exhibition Poster

Celebrate the refined beauty of French Art Nouveau with this magnificent poster created by Alphonse Mucha for the 20th exhibition of the Salon des Cent, held in Paris during March and April of 1896.

The Salon des Cent was an influential series of exhibitions organized in association with the literary and artistic journal La Plume. These events introduced Parisian audiences to contemporary posters, prints, drawings, and decorative art while providing important exhibition opportunities for innovative European artists.

Mucha places an elegant woman at the center of the composition. Her eyes are gently closed as she rests her face against one hand, creating a dreamy and contemplative expression that suggests artistic inspiration and imaginative thought.

Her abundant brown hair cascades down the left side in heavy curls before transforming into rhythmic ornamental strands. A loosely wrapped white headdress frames her face and trails across the image in delicate translucent folds.

The figure’s pale garment leaves her shoulders exposed and is decorated with a necklace of small stars. This celestial motif reinforces the dreamlike atmosphere and gives her the appearance of an allegorical muse.

In her raised hand, she holds slender artistic implements and an elaborate pale ornament. A smiling theatrical mask appears behind them, introducing an enigmatic reference to performance, fantasy, and the many creative disciplines represented at the exhibition.

A brilliant red rectangular panel behind the figure contains the Salon des Cent title. The rich red, cream, white, black, brown, and pale pink palette allows the woman’s silhouette and flowing hair to remain exceptionally clear.

Mucha integrates the event information throughout the lower portion of the poster in graceful hand-drawn lettering. The text announces the twentieth exhibition, its March–April 1896 schedule, admission price, and location at the Hall de La Plume, 31 Rue Bonaparte, Paris.

The composition demonstrates Mucha’s extraordinary ability to transform practical information into decorative art. Typography, portraiture, symbolic details, and flowing linework work together as a unified visual design.

This museum-grade reproduction is ideal for art studios, galleries, libraries, offices, dressing rooms, bedrooms, creative workspaces, and elegant Art Nouveau interiors. It also makes an exceptional gift for artists, designers, Francophiles, and collectors of Mucha’s work.

Why Collectors Love This Print

• Created by Art Nouveau master Alphonse Mucha
• Promotes the 20th Salon des Cent exhibition
• Originally published in 1896
• Connected with the influential Parisian journal La Plume
• Features one of Mucha’s iconic contemplative women
• Includes flowing hair and a delicate white headdress
• Uses stars, a theatrical mask, and artistic symbolism
• Displays graceful hand-drawn French typography
• Preserves the historic Rue Bonaparte exhibition address
• Combines cultural promotion with fine decorative art
• Offers exceptional detail and elegant vertical impact
• Complements studios, galleries, libraries, and bedrooms
• Appeals to collectors of Parisian exhibition history
• Pairs beautifully with other Mucha and La Plume posters
• Reproduces a classic masterpiece of Belle Époque design

Available Print & Display Options

• Fine Art Prints
• Framed Fine Art Prints
• Gallery-Wrapped Canvas
• Black Floater Frame Canvas
• White Floater Frame Canvas
• Brown Floater Frame Canvas
• Natural Floater Frame Canvas
• Metal Prints

Choose the presentation that best complements your space, from a traditional fine-art print to a ready-to-display framed, canvas, floater-frame, or metal format.

Artwork Details

• Title: Salon des Cent – XXe Exposition
• Artist: Alphonse Mucha
• Date: 1896
• Country of origin: France
• Location: Hall de La Plume, 31 Rue Bonaparte, Paris
• Event: 20th Salon des Cent Exhibition
• Dates shown: March–April 1896
• Purpose: Fine-art and decorative-art exhibition promotion
• Primary subject: Contemplative woman with flowing hair
• Secondary imagery: Stars, theatrical mask, headdress, and artistic implements
• Style: Art Nouveau, Belle Époque, French exhibition advertising
• Dominant colors: Red, cream, white, brown, black, and pale pink
• Mood: Dreamlike, artistic, contemplative, elegant, and romantic
• Recommended spaces: Studios, galleries, libraries, offices, dressing rooms, bedrooms, classrooms, and living rooms

Disclaimer

This artwork is a Museum Grade Reproduction of a Historical advertising poster.

This is a decorative reproduction and not the original 1896 lithograph. Minor differences in color, texture, contrast, or cropping may occur among available sizes and display formats.

Yesterday’s Posters is an independent seller and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Salon des Cent, La Plume, Alphonse Mucha’s estate, or any related rights holder.