Under pressure, Alphonse Mucha launched a new graphic form in December 1894. The actress Sarah Bernhardt commissioned a poster for a new play, giving Mucha less than a week to design it, print it, and get it on the street. Not only did he meet his deadline, but his Gismonda poster introduced Art Nouveau to the world. Famous overnight, Mucha (Czech, 1860–1939) worked prolifically in his self-invented genre, enjoying broad commercial success without ever getting rich. Twelve of his works, including theater posters and champagne, chocolate, and biscuit advertisements, fill this calendar.