Etoile Du Soir 

Alphonse Mucha's Etoile Du Soir, or Evening Star, is a lithograph, a type of print made using a flat stone or metal plate. Mucha was a master of this reproductive technique, which allowed for the mass production of images. The sinuous lines and stylized floral motifs are hallmarks of the Art Nouveau style, and reflect a desire to embrace industrial methods while still creating beautiful objects. The process begins with an artist drawing on a prepared surface, which is then treated with chemicals to create areas that will attract or repel ink. Paper is pressed against the surface, transferring the image. The result is a relatively inexpensive artwork, available to a wider audience than a painting or sculpture. Mucha skillfully blurred the line between fine art and commercial design, creating images that were both aesthetically pleasing and easily reproducible. By embracing the possibilities of lithography, Mucha made art accessible in a time of rapid industrial and social change. This reminds us of the skill in many forms of making, and the rich contexts they arise from.