NEW SERIES-IMPRESSIONISTS IN PARIS(3)-THE DREYFUS AFFAIR
Jack
http://i.am/jack_travel and on http://home.mminternet.com/~nowhere_man
Also my Paris sketches and series about Paris bridges are on
http://i.am/jack_travel
IMPRESSIONISTS IN PARIS(3)-THE DREYFUS AFFAIR
In last article we read that EMILE ZOLA moderated the war between
DEGAS and CEZANNE. That's curious! As far as I know ZOLA was a
Dreyfusard, which means pro-Dreyfuss and DEGAS a heavy
anti-Dreyfusard. They had absolutely opposite opinions about politics
and human relations. A short explanation. Dreyfus was a Jewish French
army officer, falsely accused (after a simulacra of inquiry) of
treason according to a not found in his wastebasket. Inquiry found out
it was not written by him but another officer named Esterhazy. But the
French army, very anti-Semitic didn't drop the charges and Dreyfus was
deported to devil's island. This triggered a huge reaction in France,
which was soon divided in two parties. The pro-Dreyfus and
anti-Dreyfus (led by extreme right and all anti-Semitic factions).
Finally F-Dreyfus innocence was recognized and he was re-established
in the army. But still until today, anti-Semites claim that he was
guilty.
Well they lie both now at cemetery of Montmartre, DEGAS and ZOLA. Café
Guerbois doesn't exist anymore and is replaced by a Maxi-shop selling
cheap clothes. The shop with painting accessories still exists, even
if they sell only house accessories today. But on the shop front you
can still see the mosaic with paintbrushes and palette where it is
written "Maison fondée en 1830". It's here that MANET bought his
little things.
Back to the rue de Clichy, enter the rue de Clichy and the first
street left is the rue de Bruxelles. At 21 bis the couple ZOLA died in
1902 from carbon-monoxide poisoning of what is said an intentional
chimney obstruction. Vengeance because of his world known "J'accuse!"
(written to defend Dreyfus and criticize heavily the French government
and all official departments who led to the unjust condemnation of
Dreyfus)
Continue to Place Blanche, where the Moulin Rouge still houses its
famous female dancers and singers like JANE AVRIL, LA GOULUE pupil of
VALENTIN LE DESOSSE, YVETTE GUILBERT or de female clown CHA-U-KAO.
This was of course the era of TOULOUSE-LAUTREC, present almost every
night. From here cross the boulevard de Clichy. At no.6 DEGAS died in
1917, lonesome and blind. Place Pigalle with La Nouvelle Athenes was
the place where Impressionists preferred to come from 1874 on because
of the noise made by pool players in the café Guerbois. A certain
Picot gave painting lessons in the rue Duperré to JOZEF ISRAELS and
JONGKIND. Avenue Frochot is mostly closed but if it is open have a
look at no.15. This was the last atelier of TOULOUSE-LAUTREC. He
worked and drank too much from 1897 until he died in 1901.
Bibliography
The crisis of Impressionism 1878-1882, by Ann Harbor (university of
Michigan)--Visions of City and Country: prints and photographs of 19th
century France (Worcester Art museum and New-york, American federation
of Arts), Etudes sur Manet (Gazette des Beaux-arts Paris 1959), Manet
and the French Imperssionists by T.Duret (trad.J.Flitch, New-York
1971)
Jack
My Paris,Provence and Cote d'Azur posts are open again at
http: http://i.am/jack_travel WITH pictures and at
http://home.mminternet.com/~nowhere_man