Paris, End of the Nineteenth Century:
After reaching an ultimate low through the defeat at the hands of the Prussians
in 1871, France found it's pride restored by the Centennial Exposition, which
marked the climax and conclusion of a long development. Soon after, Adolphe
Thiers became president, and France gradually regained
stability. This period of time would come to be known as the "Belle
Epoque," or beautiful years. The French economy grew stronger, thus the
standard of living improved for many Frenchmen. As industrial technology spread,
numerous European countries competed against each other in the production of
the development of new buildings and machines. France
decided to have an exposition of its own, one that would commemorate one
hundred years of freedom after the French Revolution. It was to be a celebration
of France’s pride and, renewed prosperity and strength. As the technology
of the period became more advanced, so did the exposition buildings and the
demonstrations that were held. The new
ways of building and the new use of construction materials allowed for the
design of more intricate structures. During the time period, "only a lack
of imagination could limit what the human mind could create and what human beings
could accomplish."[1]
The Centennial Exposition of 1889 represented France’s progress in the modern world. The Exposition was a manifestation of new advances in technology and engineering, which were further embodied through the country’s modern architecture and art. The Exposition as a whole portrayed a new idea of aesthetic coming out of structure. This idea was made possible because new technologies, which allowed for more flexible construction, were being discovered. Without the burgeoning economy and rapidly growing industry in France, the Centennial Exposition would not have had reason to exist. The modern structures of The Eiffel Tower, Palais des Machines rivalry, and impressionism were all due to the fact that France’s economy and industry were flourishing.
[1] Meg Greene. The Eiffel Tower. (California: Lucent Books Inc., 2001) pp. 14.