Paris ca. 1900: Art, Leisure and Spectacle

3 units

Paris at the turn of the 20th century was a vibrant international center for the development of the visual arts, including painting, photography, film, and the graphic arts, particularly in the exploding domains of posters and illustrated journals. In this seminar, we study the period from 1880 to 1910, and we examine how diverse modes of urban visuality were at the heart of the development of French modern art. The place of graphic arts in promoting popular entertainments (e.g., ballet, opera, café concerts) is considered. Another focus is the powerful role of Parisian satirical journals and caricature in debating matters of class, race, and national identity. We examine diverse modes of displaying and selling the visual arts, particularly in the spheres of World's Fairs, annual salons, and in the avant-garde spaces of gallery and café exhibitions. Artists of central concern include Lautrec, Cheret, Mucha, Degas, Pissarro, the Nabis, Vallotton, and early filmmakers such as the Lumière brothers and Méliès. Prerequisite: L01 215 or permission of instructor. One 300-level course in modern art history or a course in modern French history or literature is preferred. French language reading skills are not required.