Montmartre: the birthplace of modern art

Abstract

"After the 1871 Paris Commune, Montmartre played a significant artistic role; its unique geographical, political and social situation attracted independent artists, writers and musicians and allowed them fully to develop their bohemian and revolutionary spirit. Its cabarets, cafés, circus, dancehalls and theatres made Montmartre a popular cultural centre. Drawing on important artworks from the Weisman & Michel Collection and the Musée de Montmartre, Paris, as well as a wealth of archival photography, maps and prints to illustrate its narrative text, this volume presents up to 180 stunning colour illustrations. It includes works by Auguste Renoir, Pablo Picasso, Suzanne Valadon, Henri Matisse and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, and sheds light on central figures that were forgotten by history such as Louis Anquetin and Henri-Gabriel Ibels. A timeline of key moments and events in Montmartre from 1870-1910, a map of Montmartre showing the locations of studio spaces, residences and cabarets, and a selected bibliography provide important sources of new information for scholars." -- Provided by publisher.

Contents

Introduction -- Montmartre in the 1870s: The Paris Commune and the Impressionists -- The Chat Noir and the Incohérents: The convergence of art, literature, and humor -- Fernand Cormon's Atelier Libre: A breeding ground for Modernism -- Performance, entertainment, and art in Montmartre -- The Bateau-Lavoir, cradle of Modern Art: Picasso, Van Dongen, Freundlich, Valadon, Laurencin -- Exploring the new: Photography and cinema -- Epilogue. The flight to Montparnasse, 1910: Dada, Surrealism, Jazz.