The late 1800s saw the beginning of what the French call the Belle Epoque, or ‘beautiful era’. France and its people began to enjoy the benefits of industrialization and modernization: cheap resources, technological developments, new inventions like the telegraph, automobile and mass-produced consumer goods. Living standards improved generally, though France, like its fellow European nations, was still plagued by class disparity and poverty.
The Belle Epoque was also accompanied by a cultural boom, with new artistic movements and entertainment forms like cinema, cabaret and the infamous can-can.
French workplaces and communities were fertile ground for socialists and other radicals, many of whom enjoyed considerable support. By the early 1900s, France had one of the most left-wing governments in Europe: a progressive mix of centrists and socialists. It passed laws guaranteeing freedom of religion and the complete separation of church and state; government funding of churches was abolished and all religious buildings were nationalized.
A series of laws decreed free and compulsory education for all French children, both boys and girls. The government also introduced a progressive income tax, with higher rates for higher earners – a radical innovation for its time.
These amazing photos from
fymbremont that show what life of France looked like in the 1900s.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgcnrMPa7HeSEPJ-SVX3rfUvSEHmV5e-JsI0J9hiVhMTPypT7f4Ced6eeO00dLCQ1-4LCy8fbOP4p_CFuuqc1E_tHLPQyc1496QImoQwZ6GC1iUtFwxQx9uDy-CfG4_e81V3fFjjO3g_ewenbXid1DEImNQ5wqQDMMLEa3jFDNFUvTriOE-5mRC1uQOkQ=w640-h550-rw) |
Avenue du Bois-de-Boulogne, Paris, circa 1900 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh7xAZVLlb9v5JFVagr1BZaWF_MdhYDeFn6QsvrQeQHu027KuR7aEcas7WjDczpGt1yEpNq_C022x-zOGc6e48sWeppBWumd3TI3lvZicPFUOKPHBy34aFRZCQhL2mFgGMoKbCdaYbsbTlxjwrPPVGSvrjuDfb2DlhQKB04mdcYVKTBOFePPpBIX2WT9g=w640-h458-rw) |
Beach huts, Deauville, circa 1900 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi1Z-j4qX3P2H74AQS6e1-kkICQ0-ilbjN1n7_6ssohCTF6qx_mlmESe4cdC2URZE-Syw_EPOqNoyphDO55BjX8x_igli9HTdNjwQIFFmV5Z9pkunAZHwHWs-OSISTTNKnypJ1ESEontwGPEpTrLY6ckbBg4A6RA3JFQpgqUAdoIkLdHywOOIjlbsbiFA=w640-h538-rw) |
Homage to H.B. de Saussure, Chamonix, circa 1900 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh2zMj1Z4VlZgEVnzSCsDo_NdBYofAfKuYqV0zXI-0Pl4tkkpVhI3FenQgqh0HxMUnILwYZTqFl64tp9NgnlIxp1NPCnS4ujPQxEPV-BGVmsKKfytM95vtNIh4YtP2fW35LgS7AbR5gwfM5UwIMf25VjE9P-bknHUFON_gPnKPfEb6S7dIjD_aSK0rJlQ=w640-h546-rw) |
Hotel omnibus, circa 1900 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgLk5kGHlvc905AmK5YONRZCXsJnYgyy_1mTvU_LQd-8daOnc2khd5OwOiHtoC7In1eMnSERzGMA49fVMWVLynnPKbip9IJtjC_5z3W5BIWI4zT9tQsozZ7TkZDVgeOj6IbJRw0SjdUPtqfPHqPwkqo8I6FgzvwRGTCykKKemqubyGVVvGx2fx-Q_9PPA=w640-h500-rw) |
Le Mont-Saint-Michel, circa 1900 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhxrrEdt4hKcVpQpnJUl9i0pI6c9ewjAViUUPWM_iVcOEl_r2IgXQwm8RK_lYmslGGFE916-PkbIKF9UAFOysBCX4W3fciGuAXByG6WL9hhUPsj9rcelxeJskgN9gaGpU521qoi9v1iLNNHx2DKTlOpR7CK5RBSTPaTt5C7w0YwUWmz7pp8ZGUXPjZlvg=w640-h452-rw) |
Monumental gate, Universal Exhibition of 1900 in Paris |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj_APEZOQzyis7k-LQHBXe4g0w0xU8acVXY7XNrDMGwDmt-7Z1R9o4g-FbZe_TBBG4R7lY5xqJRJvhzcB-N97gWvVi2qzLQLwmCjpgkEt7NQmTRmOQG-mSJG-txremlfVMqHWajr-PNl5lgGR0jchDNpLzCPZL6WoIjO2dEKJMiwfk9HVQP6lXNgI8ujg=s16000-rw) |
Notre-Dame-du-Murier, Batz-sur-Mer, circa 1900 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEizvXnMBWEuiEZFb4epJz3ASbjI1lyBezX-2G7SB3o5-vkkmqMIEp4WzNrPBo-GruJLyFgnXov8mb2rQrISvmsUbCFRHQcJfzrrlSuuSkMs-Ls2DS0t9Cx2B52s7c6uk5e12qF1BJeTsGm9tqtAiFejZTLb-A2FJPj8TwuMgThsDx--MfAbsThbds0e0w=w640-h464-rw) |
Place du Châtelet, Paris, circa 1900 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhCOtb-QReesPzvbChKVYKxolS_mrdU_koK2aSEGZlYdZ5czCDMWIRuEDOsUsU2fQ4-nW3c1qFf6nLhlfUOe4DmKIvZPS-KfXAk2nEhCsstRuwHLze9Bnp_O6i2NuAO4BcbhcOeUemN04-DGW-oLjQK6UFe7xI23mj1VRYT3j1blltFfEADWUDBSlgbLQ=w640-h546-rw) |
Portraits of Gustave and Jeanne, circa 1900 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjfuOc2Flye_3dwPqO2PR4tVwiJWtzE4f_amEFYhG1LvzNAl1MZwFFen88U88iEC2TT7yMjsg-7Ect9QWXcY8PVaBSP_9QVgDshQUle99YzmPRKedWU7Iws5x0R9-phdL4VSwHIgtPL8BW5iraTplDvX8xqyI6BWZXUR8_K427_ZAxLxZpgL53WHF28NQ=w640-h546-rw) |
Sèvres pier, circa 1900 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh4XQEekvch9bK2TNqxz4k-cCeoNm75hDfo-rEju-71p5Ui3bYqrm3qMB0onr_MwmafU9LgKweuLGXFyGa5us-JpWS9nwBrlAiZD0Numumxh1hSMCPq17hF-I-LAKgULZBSxWpbeRnFdIKI2nPz47-irC0Gq19kJCyjCGirGn7-T-9A6DrhIs74M2Y5iA=w640-h550-rw) |
The beach, Trouville, around 1900 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjZF4ZxCjN4NLhq5NGXPG4HYylxowv3B8SzL62HjH5bJCsIFDKQCD2Cm07zOmg5xHBk1GORi4pMdVtwrHlyKcCsivJgiM0kHRVqfC1MvCpEHUCPDYunjeIuyt-Rke_w1PF1kPlV5T9xelOSI6OMMag0HcUmtj9B2TBDC0EpIVNbkACVhVKR3V6j9Tge1w=w640-h542-rw) |
The Château de Coucy, Picardy, circa 1900 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj8j0GVS2_eH8i2mplKoIszjtXn_ZYQJcZ1gkCcuwHg7hki45126jOuMyCi7icdcMI2uhAbysa2bRHkpfyVg_6p3dugfpeGgo1V7aAPkLIYbXs9p4mB78fgWKJy6zk3CW94c5RTLz_FAkaDZG3E2Vzm05TnXPI9sFIaJamTxBuEWuFLHKFJfEaQWWF95Q=w640-h462-rw) |
The Grand Palais, Paris, the Universal Exhibition of 1900 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgQZPaD3aaKGhvJLu6UEtUCAO_7ZHcYDNZ44GD_vnMAxcshaR7lo_A543t3XYFa9OLDwyqm3kW476rwsAW-O4Jx0Wu7kGk1n1mDFPtCVElQ6zy_WBE2OAbbdu4N1u12q1ltUZQHb6oWAqYUSTgtVxSDQvI1onjAP5hCfwtBTtR1u4DKdmDbDes4Hrq3BA=w640-h544-rw) |
The Parc des Buttes Chaumont, Paris, circa 1900 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEilnexJbD8WZVqPJrjgvo5eARapXfPaUHnzZs1a1S7vtf0-ZsfMB5f8D99XDC7wneGaI-3c0dZuGIPLZ5qfcfJ1mUmqg3wJgCnW0TxkePqLMbi5HL4_cYFT7sJi1i6DVa289uZf5VBmUuSdf_9LUnFWCANrZAemKF0AyEhPUty3qwHUb8oHR2AU3Kv57Q=w640-h562-rw) |
The port, Cannes, circa 1900 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhdOm7QSc0ha866TUCL48KSEpWpVPnex4xloYVxJHILV5jiSo_ETTUiu5b0oyGcQZogDsvlfrWOMh5Z1k0_Ekuwl_oB3t34gLLuVFlbttAqsOIzRbLsDAK9D32vPeBIvVLaTxmEi3VtxQmsGZXbmJlR1IT6Ug9L4fei-KjrxCe8Qu87Haa2ws9BMFY56w=s16000-rw) |
Tour St Jacques, Paris, circa 1900 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi7ya3oN6mvi5K3DdPp94BT8nLLObg4KhWxTWuGpJgW1CHasPqAZQL7zAKXxRYukNUKpfnKbODBd3-Nl5BLq_9GsdSu24SUvMCff9KIfx8txISnJ4SoIWFgRk4RL50NXWf73UniGd8eIxPiiRs3sC8p5HgSLnvNdczWiuycBGc7R9zNniP5PKFOcEkGrw=w640-h504-rw) |
Trouville, circa 1900 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiwZhSY8AdTxwYaNyLeQVl62shlwtP6PrNOIA144_s-4wmJ3ZY_hBYh9K2R2sF1REXGn23PCxTA_WhE01kbpmdaXVxEtA587hHynKoljgrN0_hsEIGJITgc5dOvNIuASNL8YFQEpgptUeKqVbJhQzYO22IARb368-7V2CnuzB14Oi-1km9_fxQ4f2qz0g=w640-h548-rw) |
Villemoisson, circa 1900 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjt-BPanxH_6OtzRAA29vCVieurtjex6-1IciQiiaBdhXUpYU11RgAEAuPpj8mvpcK18fUysNON6WbiEO1SoSqTibIoU_g2TyIqab4YrjiRRBqHApyxsCd8IhqrJ2Ht-JdEWKKDMiSg5272bU2Qefz65nAIuM5niom9zxbR2vQbVfbABfoWT3grLzqEsw=w640-h562-rw) |
Washerwomen, circa 1900 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEibZ6vaaA1cN1ZYbPTlGeGzPmBFO-InEhwE86uFi9xeklK8A3c9txYZ6GxyI6TvV-PrN5jgie_BosI8N6ir7f2t2PdbByG31pQnMP4Z-XTMSXI3EfDcVnRz3MRBfEIRczxDrjccKtO9VjKMlTGTpM-pZezpOSs8jU7E8BVSlhqF91ZNwNtpXIWSeVuUSg=w640-h550-rw) |
Entrance to the port of Trouville, 1901 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEij9r7sqKKfX8Z85jB3X6JRUDskfFqvM3vu3mYAtISLdRXm0tO0FqyBpQgqiHzalf-ZgwIo8ZOlvLQm-h8xQV18Y9Yr3f6nH_mXryj6LP6FChpjfHRKAErdyWf3wXhRn53_9FqLtVMbU8ciVCXAKUcMnyjdSHeire4dawRyqYF3vU9TE5egT099tauGZA=w640-h546-rw) |
Place des Vosges, Paris, 1902 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg9FY36ExN8yMuTmm2flTjSkYOFOpwoL2FLw186_moyPWKs4YAXbF3k4QfS3ERDtlDBvswPIUbZqFOS-sbIvu_z7thE3Qi-qbWjjqZcpZZ4fEHxOKB32qH5BgKoX8Khc2vuNq42SGGx_iMX88bQ9h6QsyzscaynvDYb3G7kpAYtWcv0z-hXhBgnwUgViQ=s16000-rw) |
Statue Victor Hugo, Paris, 1902 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgRaQ1vn7xtfTQoj3DEwi4VENy12FLoT_hlzNkojJhNWWJmVfz3YlYg1ufpu2Se0RcB7IG-3QiudHQs5YGPsKdFO2D6FTTcXXFWhdNGOJXYeT1XkQzf1ttovUPxCCk3sO-MDXUpeladlpFeIrQ-66xd6sJ581iHV4zNXiX0uDDQXk5PFuzHTEFwcVsbAw=w640-h548-rw) |
The Chartreuse desert, France, 1902 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjkKciyzMrxH0w1z3BJbN_0idfd5AB6Zcm88lNXp4q-1w5Z9YYP3fESl3ZJJoj7RIaHv7jlFVedg6Mensv0SPiyqMjNdYUNEUnjfpvrM96a5tcGURolBMJPji_7ercArXHql1kI66-CS_dDEiJNZaCL0yc2hCGFUiRjSU7FuW9weCIwluiHtaa5D8GxJg=w640-h544-rw) |
La Grande Plage, Biarritz, 1904 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjuPd5ukY0wB0v28uPe5oM-uo70TU-4YX7E70G9SN01APwls6uZQ3xLcHQ0FGAlAnVf4FqkO_mcRV0zC3Hvsv75_Q_Z-Ry-84gYN11dB0nXXeyuHSyy_XU0iASr7Q03zpY_25IVNiASywWsZHpEkDFtibC2KqmYOfbmJBUXeapjTXKmmZvuo4dBdvjNpA=w640-h550-rw) |
Rocher de la Vierge, Biarritz, 1904 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiWbYpF-iJV6FKPV4Bs0nvQuK0C1JMagfVpjqlOFOsneJjvbRfzR0seCoJroxgj4dD5wk4Uvm9HgE43Y5P-g-kUy92WQQ68MM1GKShA7f2eXGkMnYCi0hMforFml_uOhLem5npiwQKQIizF7iAkV6eXlZz57djq8e74rq0IrVG6ECns7Ll3R-JsuLco4Q=w640-h548-rw) |
Villa Belza, Biarritz, 1904 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhfcPulYYtn34b6UFjAXIkJ82pgrfHn-HaYAQHf5IIOm0XTgTQGRwtVK1NfWJCVHQvZ_6v_L6G8MgGAN0tr-ZP-Oa6u3ypZ0UP1YsdtcKuLQoBRB2bmEiAlXjy-qliCiA11CRscZ3-X315JBhyt1V20U2ifuRsskDf8IaAUgtrHBERwtA1gNbhNVze0aA=w640-h552-rw) |
International Music Competition, Geneva, August 1905 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhFxdnU4Ap2znaDggOzAUIhVaRvv52taLqFnaMlwZ-AHcMamq7w8kkVK4H8jDlbagoCLJlHHK0S3r8vs5Lap91QLCjkFFgVMXjfFGKHEFlpETIUC9IDhWgDHQXuCjNuqpe-0Q5DVE4blT33SqGXzXpWhnbFTcv-vJ7c3z6Ub-3mAzhjXbbwDdW8_v4Lsg=w640-h550-rw) |
The Auteuil viaduct, Paris, 1905 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgelV1Bwr6PywCk3aefo78umO2NYfs4PoSWop7S1kyPrWdzJML_TMzSQ8pqQIdhDO7a2uWGXVOnfzu6yVEQnZEiwNDrfGXz1IyPGQTv1GThWHUKmAUktYjmG7ho05h3WH2_G3JJAov9HiP4mEEXgTgrm0XSHbNPFVtYHd5BTiZIvz8BAHYBx82BfK1LDg=s16000-rw) |
Portraits of Madeleine and Emilien, circa 1906 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh8YNnltGPRziDd6eyLk0CsN14mQ3Bi1xTSH9DURavl8y6cJkhDx-QJXi2rG5CSgp_XJZj49xI8_fPyg4q6rDJGCBifI35UJAZPo4LrB2v0_XGORQ-Sem1g_MtZTsfHPhjLNxgKclyA0ImU7Lps0Id4W3dnKDUovyAlRSnG4drYs_JL193u9lHSPX5Lqg=w640-h544-rw) |
Suzanne sews, circa 1907 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEijYu9nPieCN2O0xLHn2RBLS2ElRL1VD7P9jvYK9FTCut5cWxItGcE0YFq3AjnoT1uo2eQYG11ot4co5MpUaw6fE_-IAwGKx21gxUOCv4euIEZT3Ro0smoIuduT3s5uNUELuyXhfnWgGirWkloi1k3OHB-h9bu-K7N7ebGsCbO8fZZniGn6sJ0i6oW3XQ=w640-h462-rw) |
Portrait of Yvonne, circa 1908 |
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