An artwork by Alfons Mucha in the Art Nouveau style, characteristic of this period
The belle époque is a period in the French, and with enlargement of European history, which is located at the end of the 19th century until the start of the First World War. During this major conflict, many considered the period before the war to be a golden age, characterized by general prosperity, an enormous development of arts and science and a high level of social rest. This period is called 'La belle époque', which can be translated as 'the beautiful age'. The beautiful era to which the horror of the First World War ended terribly. In cultural environments, the term 'fin de siècle' (translated: the end of the century) is also used to nominate this period. Although in this context, it is primarily the designation of a period of style, which mainly reflects the impressive increase of the various art forms and styles that blossomed at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th.
Although the belle époque initially focused on French history, it was used as a general term for the entire European society that preceded the "Great War". The various hyper-capitalist developments that are seen as characteristic for this period took place throughout the continent. The belle époque was also accompanied by a huge revival of trade, traffic and tourism between different European states.
Begin Advertising poster for the 1889 World Expo in ParisThere is a lot of discussion about the precise beginning of the belle époque. It is not easy to give a specific start date for this period, especially because different social aspects have started apart from each other. Some developments began around 1870. The last armed conflict ended in Western Europe, followed by four decades of relative (armed) peace. In addition, Germany and Italy became untouched states in this period, which generally caused social rest on the continent. Nevertheless, there are other key features of the belle époque that were still missing around 1870. Nevertheless, in France, in all areas an elephant flourished in which the industry flourished, the technology grew well and the culture flourished. The start to the belle époque was set.
Also 1889 is often called the beginning of the belle époque. In Paris, the 1889 World Exhibition took place in Paris. It was a model of progress, innovation and cultural development. The developments for which this exhibition symbolized was characteristic of the period that followed. Capitalism celebrated high tide. A lifestyle that focuses on freedom, culture and beauty became the norm. Purchasing power grew. The standard of living improved. Several other states were organizing exhibitions and events to show their prosperity to the world. Culturally, technologically, economically and politically, European society was in a new phase. Socio-economic characteristics
The belle époque is first and foremost characterized by more prosperity, which also had major consequences in the social field. After a depression caused by a stock market crisis in 1873, the economy began to recover. Purchasing power grew again and even increased exponentially. The industry could thus produce more and more different products on a much larger scale. This also had a social impact. Working conditions improved and workers were able to afford a better lifestyle through higher wages. Women's labor decreased and remained limited to some sectors. Child labor was prohibited by law. The increased wage allowed the workers to play a much more active role
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