Gismonda by Alphonse Mucha (1894)

Alphonse Mucha was a Czech artist and designer. His work is considered among the best created during the Art Nouveau movement and is best known for his images of women. Mucha has had a very strong influence on graphic design, with many works during the 1960's psychedelia movement mimicking his style.

Mucha captured immediate fame when this radically different piece first debuted. This piece was the first success of his long carrer. It is relevant to graphic design because it shows originality and helped the field get out of the victorian era.

Source(s):
Meggs' History of Graphic Design
http://ilyaunsiecle.blog.lemonde.fr/2008/02/07/7-fevrier-1908-le-monde-p...
http://www.mucha.cz/index.phtml?S=home&Lang=EN