Full size sold for $ 18,400 US Poster Auctions International, NY May 2006
"La Samaritaine (Woman of Samaria) was a play with a biblical theme, written
by Edmond Rostand for Miss. Bernhardt and introduced by her during the Easter
season of 1897. She played Photina, a girl from the Samaria district of ancient
Palestine, who become a supporter of Jesus and leads her whole tribe in converting
to Christianity. For his poster, Mucha chose a scene from the second act in which
the girl carries around a large water jar
Edmond Rostand was one of several
playwrights who became admirers as well as lovers of Sarah Bernhardt during her
career
To catch the mood of the play, Mucha put a mosaic with Hebrew lettering
(Jehova) into his customary halo around Sarah's head. A seemingly random scattering
of stars follows the convolutions of her hair, and stylized flowers adorn the
corners"(Rennert/Weill p.118) |