When looking into Giovanni Boldini I saw that he was part of the French Belle Epoque period. As most things, I had heard of Belle Epoque, but didn't really know what it was. Thanks to Wiki, now I know a little something.
It was a gilded age in French history, and wasn't referred to as Belle Epoque until later when things became not so gilded. Of course only a portion of the French population really felt the good times of the period. The lower classes didn't really feel the effects, as much as the upper classes did. Still, a lot of beautiful work came out of the period, not to mention industrial advancements.
Things that occurred during Belle Epoque (1871-1914)
1) The Eiffel Tower was built for the 1889 World's Fair.
2) Cars and electricity spread, and neon lights were invented in France.
3) Vincent van Gogh died in 1890
4) The same year Monet started his Haystack series.
To me though Alphonse Mucha is the poster boy for Belle Epoque.
Luchon by Alphonse Mucha (1895)
Le Chateau d'eau and Plaza
It was a gilded age in French history, and wasn't referred to as Belle Epoque until later when things became not so gilded. Of course only a portion of the French population really felt the good times of the period. The lower classes didn't really feel the effects, as much as the upper classes did. Still, a lot of beautiful work came out of the period, not to mention industrial advancements.
Things that occurred during Belle Epoque (1871-1914)
1) The Eiffel Tower was built for the 1889 World's Fair.
2) Cars and electricity spread, and neon lights were invented in France.
3) Vincent van Gogh died in 1890
4) The same year Monet started his Haystack series.
To me though Alphonse Mucha is the poster boy for Belle Epoque.
Luchon by Alphonse Mucha (1895)
Le Chateau d'eau and Plaza
Art Nouveau architecture by Jules Lavirotte
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