Page 40 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Paris

38  INTRODUCING P ARIS

The Belle Epoque

The Franco-Prussian War culminated in the terrible Siege
of Paris. When peace came in 1871, it fell to the new
government, the Third Republic, to bring about economic
recovery. From about 1890 life was transformed: the motor-
car, aeroplane, cinema, telephone and gramophone all
contributed to the enjoyment of life and the Belle Epoque
(beautiful age) was born. Paris became a glittering city where Extent of the City
the new style, Art Nouveau, decorated buildings and objects. 1895 Today
The paintings of the Impressionists, such as Renoir, reflected
the joie de vivre of the times, while later those of Matisse, The interior was arranged
as tiers of galleries around
Braque and Picasso heralded the modern movement in art. a central grand staircase.
Cabaret Poster Electricity illuminated
Toulouse-Lautrec’s the window displays.
posters immor-
talized the singers
and dancers of the
cafés and cabaret
clubs of Mont martre,
where artists and
writers congregated
in the 1890s.

Windows facing
on to the Boulevard
Haussmann displayed
the goods on offer.

Central Hall of the Grand Palais The Naughty Nineties
The Grand Palais (p210) was built to The Lumière brothers captured
house two huge exhibitions of French the daring negligée fashions of
painting and sculpture at the Universal the 1890s in the first moving
Exhibition of 1900. images of the cinematograph.

1891 First Metro
1871 Third 1872 Monet paints first 1885 Louis Pasteur station opens
Republic Impressionist picture: discovers rabies vaccine
established Impression: Sunrise 1889 Eiffel
Tower built
1870 1875 1880 1885 1890
Zoo animals were
shot to feed the Entrance
hungry (see p227) ticket to the
exhibition
1889 Great
1870 Siege of Paris
Louis Pasteur Exhibition

038-039_EW_Paris.indd 38 03/04/17 10:49 am
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Starsight history template “UK” LAYER
(Source v1)
Date 26th July 2012
Size 125mm x 217mm