Lefevre-Utile Sarah Bernhardt
1903
Legend has it that Sarah Bernhardt discovered Alphonse Mucha when she was stranded without a poster for her play Gismonda, and he saved the day overnight. Here, in this 1904 calendar poster for Lefevre-Utile biscuits, he portrays her as the Princess Lointaine, draped in sumptuous reds and creams with lilies in her hair. She looks contemplative, clutching a sheer green scarf against a backdrop of soft, dappled forest light. The 'LU' logo for the biscuit company is tucked discreetly in the bottom left, proving that even high Art Nouveau elegance can sell cookies.
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