around christmas 1894, mucha happened to drop into a print shop where there was a sudden and unexpected need for a new advertising poster for a play starring sarah bernhardt, the most famous actress in paris. mucha volunteered to produce a lithographed poster within two weeks, and on 1 january 1895, the advertisement for the play "gismonda" by victorien sardou appeared on the streets of the city. it was an overnight sensation and announced the new artistic style and its creator to the citizens of paris. bernhardt was so satisfied with the success of this first poster that she entered into a 6-year contract with mucha.