Nude on a Rock (1898-1899)

A young woman gazes down to admire her reflection in the water below the rock on which she is seated.

The free, expressive treatment of this figure sets it apart from all other sculptural works attributed to Mucha which are more formal and idealised in style.

Mucha began to work in sculpture around 1898.He was probably encouraged by his two sculptor friends: Auguste Seysses (1862-1946), whose studio was below Mucha's in the rue du Val de Grâce, and Auguste Rodin (1840-1917), whose spiritual philosophy was similar to Mucha's. Rodin's influence may be seen in the free-style modelling of this work and the composition integrating the prominent rocky base.