At that time…
One century after the French Revolution, France was booming in the scientiic, cultural and artistic ields. This was the golden age of Freud, Zola, Jules Verne and Rodin.
1886
• General Boulanger is appointed Minister of War.
• Industry is carried by science, and science stimulated by industry.
• Improvements in means of communication (the Suez Canal opened in 1869) puts China a month away from Marseille, and Japan less than 40 days away.
• The Impressionists show their work in New York despite never having met with success in France.
• The Americans inaugurate the Statue of “Liberty that lit the world”, designed by sculptor Auguste Bartholdi (structure by Gustave Eiffel).
• At the end of the XIXth century, fashion relects economic and social life. Lavishly attired, the bourgeoisie ills the salons in vogue, the clubs and theatres.
• Sarah Bernhardt plays Marion Delorme.
• Sigmund Freud opens his practice in Vienna.
1887
• Sadi Carnot is elected President of the Republic.
• Building of the new Bourse de Commerce is completed.
• The irst labor exchange opens in Paris.
• The International Congress of Astronomers decides to make the irst map of the sky.
• André Antoine founds the Free Theatre.
• Gustave Ferrié enters Polytechnique.
1888
• William II becomes Emperor of Germany.
• 11,000 people in France have a telephone.
• Emile Zola completes Les Rougon-Macquart.
• Jules Verne has been writing Les Voyages Extraordinaires for 25 years.
1889
• Banquet of the Mayors of France.
• The decline and end of Le Boulangisme.
• Foundation of the Second International.
• Benjamin Harrison is elected President of the United States, and the irst Panamerican Conference is held in Washington.
• Paul Claudel writes Tête d’Or, Alfred Jarry embarks on Ubu Roi, Knut Hamsun pens Hunger and Paul Bourget Le disciple.
• Vincent Van Gogh and Paul Gauguin in Arles.
• Foundation of the the Nabis group of artists.
• Birth of Charles Spencer Chaplin, known as Charlie… and of Martin Heidegger, Adolf Hitler, Abel Gance, Jean Cocteau, Jean de Lattre de Tasssigny.
• Death of Jules Barbey d’Aurevilly, Philippe de Villiers de l’Isle-Adam and Eugène Chevreul, a French chemist fascinated by the construction of the Eiffel Tower.
• After Les Bourgeois de Calais, Auguste Rodin sculpts The Kiss.
• Birth of René Barthélémy, the pioneer of French television.
Credit: Phil Guest – 1886: The Americans inaugurate the Statue of “Liberty that lit the world”, designed by sculptor Auguste Bartholdi (structure by Gustave Eiffel).
