"Even if I didn't know the name, my heart already knew it--"
Jaufre, a young man who avoids people and devotes himself to prayer, is already drawn to the image of a certain woman deep in his soul. Without knowing her name, he simply etched her eyes and presence into his memory.

Work Description

This scene is at the beginning of the story, near the end of Part 1, Chapter 1. It is an important scene that depicts the inner conflict and psychological inclinations of the protagonist, Jaufre, and marks the beginning of his opening up to his ideal woman.

The narrator, Friar Adalbert, is somewhat uneasy about Jaufre's solitary personality and "tendency to avoid women." Seeing Jaufre avoid human contact, the narrator is impressed by his purity and inaccessibility, so much so that he is called a "seraphim," but he also worries about the dangers that come with that purity. In fact, Jaufre is secretly becoming obsessed with a certain woman, and without revealing who she is, and unable to even acknowledge the true nature of his feelings, his heart begins to waver.

The single flower and its entwining stem depicted in the decoration seem to symbolize uncontrollable emotion, embodying the Art Nouveau idea of "the botanical expression of inner feelings."

This work is included in the lavishly illustrated book "Ilse of Tripoli," published in German in 1901.

• Title : Illustration from "Ilse, Princess of Tripoli"

• Artist : Alphonse Mucha (1860–1939)

• Year of production : 1901

• Technique : Color lithograph (double-sided printing)

• Size : Approx. 30 x 20 cm (paper surface)

*The frame in the image is for reference only. Please contact us regarding framing.

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"Alfons Mucha and 'Ilse, Princess of Tripoli' | The appeal of the story and illustrations"

All Authentic. All Original.

--All genuine, all original.

This work is an original antique print made over 100 years ago.

All works sold at Rivoli Antiques are genuine works of artistic value that were printed at the time, and are not later reproductions or copies.