The movement was strongly influenced by Czech artist Alphonse Mucha . Mucha produced a lithographed poster as an advertisement for the play Gismonda by Victorien Sardou , starring Sarah Bernhardt . The movement was strongly influenced by Czech artist Alphonse Mucha , when Mucha produced a lithographed poster , which appeared on 1 January 1895 in the streets of Paris as an advertisement for the play Gismonda by Victorien Sardou , starring Sarah Bernhardt .