The historical period commonly referred to as the Belle Epoque - the final decades of the Nineteenth Century and the beginning years of the Twentieth - continues to intrigue primarily because of the progressive changes that occurred in the arts, which spanned the period from Impressionism to the early avant-garde movements. Although the art created during this era garnered esteem and a following, certain aspects of the artistic life that were crucial at the time have since been obscured or forgotten. Portraits of the Belle Epoque brings light to the art that characterised life through portraiture, a genre that not only best defines the time frame but one that also illuminates the relationship between art and the society of the time.
