The utopian positivism of the 19th century and its progressive creed led to unbridled individualism in France. Art nouveau extravagance began … See more

Surrealism
Surrealism came to the forefront in the 1920s cultural scene, bringing new forms of expression to poetry with authors like André Breton, whose Surrealist Manifesto appeared in 1924, Louis Aragon, Paul Éluard See more

Along with the elite culture that characterized the 1920s, there arose at the same time in Paris, a popular culture. The First World War upset … See more

The Années folles were also a period of strong economic growth. New products and services in booming markets boost the economy: radio, … See more

Cafés around Paris became places where artists, writers, and others gathered. On the Rive Gauche (left bank) the scene centered around … See more

In the 1920s, Parisian nightlife was greatly influenced by American culture. One of its greatest influences was the ragtime called jazz, … See more

The emancipated look
The garçonne (flapper) look in women's fashion emerged in Paris, promoted especially by Coco Chanel. The boyish look was … See more