Austria at the World's Fair poster by Alfons Mucha

“Austria at the World's Fair.” Chromolithograph mounted on canvas by Alfons Mucha

Alfons Mucha (1860–1939) was one of the leading figures of Art Nouveau in Paris. Trained in Vienna, he moved to Paris in 1887 and achieved great success with the posters he created for Sarah Bernhardt.

The year 1900 brought a wealth of commissions for the artist, who created numerous posters and murals, including, of course, his contribution to the Austro-Hungarian Pavilion.

In this poster, Austria-Hungary, unveiled by an enigmatic male figure, is personified in the form of a woman whose dress bears the country’s coat of arms. On the right side are depicted the main attractions of the Austrian section, such as the Wiener Restaurant and the Hall of Honor (Ehrensaal), along with the names of the architects.