Late in the 19th century, Paris hosted two major international expositions: the 1889 Universal Exposition, was held to mark the centennial of the French Revolution and featured the new Eiffel Tower; and the 1900 Universal Exposition, which gave Paris the Pont Alexandre III, the Grand Palais, the Petit Palais and the first Paris Métro line. Paris became the laboratory of Naturalism (Émile Zola) and Symbolism (Charles Baudelaire and Paul Verlaine), and of Impressionism in art (Courbet, Manet, Monet, Renoir).
By 1901, the population of Paris had grown to 2,715,000. At the beginning of the century, artists from around the world including: Pablo Picasso, Modigliani, and Henri Matisse made Paris their home. It was the birthplace of Fauvism, Cubism and abstract art, and authors such as Marcel Proust were exploring new approaches to literature.
The Pavilions of the Nations and persepective of the bridges, Exposition universelle internationale de 1900, Paris, France. / Image: Library of Congress
Ancient Paris, Exposition Universal, 1900, Paris, France. / Image: Library of Congress
Paris, Foyer de L’Opera. / Image: Library of Congress
The Opera House, Paris, France. / Image: Library of Congress
Panorama of the seven bridges, Paris, France. / Image: Library of Congress
Paris. La Madeleine. / Image: Library of Congress
Paris. Le Louvre. / Image: Library of Congress
Paris. St. Etienne-du-Mont. / Image: Library of Congress
Paris. L’Arc-de-Triomphe de L’Etoile. / Image: Library of Congress
St. James’ tower, Paris, France. / Image: Library of Congress
Place de la Republique, Paris, France. / Image: Library of Congress
The Pavilions of the Nations, III, Exposition Universal, 1900, Paris, France. / Image: Library of Congress
Place de la Bastille, Paris, France. / Image: Library of Congress
Eiffel Tower and fountain, Exposition Universelle, 1900, Paris, France. / Image: Library of Congress
Notre Dame, Paris, France. / Image: Library of Congress
