Poster presentation of Andersen's Snow Queen 

Alphonse Mucha created this poster presentation of Andersen's Snow Queen, a fairy tale that explores themes of innocence, corruption, and redemption, around the turn of the 20th century. Mucha was a Czech artist working in Paris, and his work exemplifies Art Nouveau, a style that embraced decorative design and organic forms. Here, the image creates meaning through visual codes of childhood innocence versus the corruption of power; note the contrast between the naked child and the crowned figure draped in ermine. The country in which it was made, France, was experiencing a period of rapid social change and cultural ferment. The poster could be interpreted as commenting on the social structures of its time, perhaps critiquing the opulence and decadence of the ruling class. To fully understand the work we could research the history of illustrated books and graphic design.