Lovers, a comedy by Mr. Donnay. Théâtre de la Renaissance

A glamorous soirée. Gentlemen in tuxedos and ladies in elegant gowns listen intently to a live musical performance.

Paris, 1895. Alphonse Mucha was rapidly ascending the ladder of fame. At the end of the previous year, he had designed a poster for the legendary actress Sarah Bernhardt, and its revolutionary style took Paris by storm. Deeply moved, Sarah signed an exclusive contract with him, entrusting Mucha with all the promotional visuals for her Théâtre de la Renaissance.

His studio on Rue de la Grande Chaumière was alive with the feverish energy of avant-garde artists. Among them was the painter Paul Gauguin, then struggling in poverty, who visited frequently and took delight in playing Mucha's harmonium.

In this vibrant studio, Mucha experimented with a groundbreaking medium: photography. By posing models and capturing them on glass plate negatives, he meticulously studied the intricate folds of drapery and the subtle intertwining of gazes to craft flawless compositions.