La “Belle Epoque” (Paris between 1890 and WW I ) created the modern idea of entertainment.

Those were the years of films, Art Nouveau, Impressionism, Debussy, and the Tour Eiffel.

The cabaret was were people celebrated the “belle epoque”

It was ended by World War II.

Artiste BruantArtiste Bruant was one of the first “chansonniers”.“chansonniers”.

He used folk music and a plain tone that shared stories especially for the lower classes.

The “chanson”“chanson” was born from operettas. Music evolved to be more lively, hummable, and rhythmic, and contain refrains that people could sing.

Le Chat NoirLe Chat Noir was the first cabaret cabaret in Paris which opened in 1872.

It became a gathering spot for avant-garde artists, poets, musicians, and writers.

The Chat Noir represented the mysterious, independent, sensual, and nocturnal culture of MontmartreMontmartre.

The owner of the Chat Noir had inscribed on his tombstone the following quote:

“God created the world,

Napoleon the Legion of Honor, and

I, Montmartre.”

La Goulue

( the greedy one)

was a young

dancer who turned the

cancan into a risqué

dance with high kicks

and loud shrieks.

This is Toulouse Toulouse Lautrec’sLautrec’s most famous poster.

LE CAN CAN

Tu peux le faire?

Publicity posters were an important innovation of the Montmartre artists. This poster depicted a voluptuous woman who flirted with viewers and welcomed into the Moulin Rouge.

The Moulin Rouge opened in 1889.