Art in La Belle Epoque




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ClassGraphic Spanning more than 40 years, from the end of the Franco-Prussian War in 1872 to the beginning of the First World War in 1914, La Belle Epoque was an era characterized by peace, economic prosperity and scientific progress. It was a new golden age for art, with Paris at its epicenter. At the dawn of La Belle Epoque, a radical group of painters, known as the impressionists, had scandalized the Paris art establishment. A decade later a new group of radicals emerged. Known as the post-impressionists, this group included Cezanne, Seurat, Signac, Van Gogh, Villard, Gaugin, Toulouse-Lautrec, and Matisse. Rodin revolutionized the art of sculpture, creating life-like masterpieces that conveyed intense human emotions, and Eiffel designed a 1,000-foot tower that became synonymous with Paris. We will use class discussion, written materials, and videos to explore the work of these and other artists. If you want to learn about the artists of La Belle Epoque, how politics and science influenced their work, and their impact on modern art, this is the study group for you. Study group members will need to purchase a subscription to Great Courses Plus for $20 per month or purchase a series of video lectures for $45.

Class Details

13 Session(s)
Weekly - Thu

Location
Wieboldt Hall

Instructor
Multiple

Tuition:  $0.00

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Schedule Information

Skip dates: (No class on 11/26/2026)

Date(s) Class Days Times Location Instructor(s)
9/10/2026 - 12/10/2026 Weekly - Thu 01:15 PM - 03:15 PM Chicago, Wieboldt Hall  Map Evelyn Shaevel  ; Linda Listrom