Belle Époque is a period in French history marked by peace and territorial harmony, with artistic and technological advances in a latent phase. The Belle Époque ("beautiful period", in Portuguese) must be understood as a French people's state of mind, which began in the mid-19th century and ended with the beginning of World War I in 1914.
With the emergence of some technologies, such as cinema and the telephone, for example, the Belle Époque was characterized as the "golden age" for French society in the cultural and scientific sphere. Thus, France became a world reference in education, science and art, with the capital Paris being the "heart" of the Belle Époque Mundial.
In fact, the artistic movement that characterized the Belle Époque was called Art Nouveau, which was formed by vibrant colors, curved and natural shapes, being mainly applied in architecture.
The emphasis on beauty and fun are two other points that mark this period. There are numerous entertainment and cultural spaces, especially in the French capital, such as cabarets, concert halls, cinemas, theaters, bookstores, cafes and other environments that were widely frequented by intellectuals and high-class people economic.
Belle Époque Features
- Feeling of peace in France and Europe;
- State of mind is marked by euphoria for progress;
- Scientific and technological discoveries, such as the telephone and the cinema;
- Improvement in public and private transport (construction of trains and steamships);
- Emergence of electric lighting in cities, replacing gas lighting;
- France to become an artistic, scientific and intellectual center;
- Dissemination of cultural and entertainment spaces, such as bookstores, boulevards, concert halls, cafes, art galleries, cabarets, among others;
- Art Nouveau is the most popular artistic movement during this period;
- Realism and Naturalism were the main literary currents of the Belle Époque;
- Construction of the Eiffel Tower.
Belle Époque in Brazil
The Brazilian Belle Époque began with the Proclamation of the Republic, in 1889, and lasted until the emergence of the Modernist Movement, in 1922, marked by the iconic Modern Art Week, in São Paulo.
Among the Brazilian capitals that had the greatest influence during this period are: Rio de Janeiro, Fortaleza, Manaus and Belém, where the upper bourgeoisie and intellectuals of the time closely followed all the trends seen in Europe, especially in France.
As a matter of fact, relations between Brazil and France became very close during the Belle Époque. It was common for Brazilian aristocrats and intellectuals to go to Paris at least once a year to observe the country's artistic, cultural and aesthetic novelties.
The Belle Époque in Brazil (also called the Tropical Belle Époque) was marked by a strong sense of moralism and sexual repression, as well as dictated acceptable behavior during the era Victorian.
Learn more about Modern Art.
