Portraits of the Belle Epoque

The historical period commonly referred to as the Belle Epoque--the final decades of the nineteenth century and the beginning years of the twentieth--continues to intrigue primarily because of the progressive changes that occurred in the arts, which spanned the period from Impressionism to the early avant-garde movements. Although the art created during this era garnered esteem and a following, certain aspects of the artistic life that were crucial at the time have since been obscured or forgotten. One of the goals of the exhibition Portraits of the Belle Epoque is to bring light to the art that characterized life through portraiture, a genre that not only best defines the timeframe but one that also illuminates the relationship between art and the society of the time. SELLING POINTS: * Details the pioneering initiative to elucidate portraiture and its significance in society during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries * The exhibition brings together works from approximately forty museums and private collections in Europe and the United States 128 colour illustrations