Belle Époque

== English == === Alternative forms === Belle Epoque, belle époque, belle epoque La Belle Époque, la Belle Époque, la belle époque === Etymology === Borrowed from French Belle Époque (“good epoch”). See belle + epoque. === Proper noun === the Belle Époque (uncountable) (history) A period of European history, extending over several decades until the start of the First World War, characterized by artistic and cultural refinement. (by extension) (aesthetic) A style of art and architecture characterized by opulence, eclecticism, and organic dynamism, blending historical revival styles (Neo-Baroque, Neo-Gothic) with the flowing lines of Art Nouveau, utilizing new materials like iron and glass for decorative elements, and celebrating modern life with vibrant colors and natural motifs, reflecting the era's optimism, luxury, and technological progress. ==== Usage notes ==== By convention, the period extends from the end of the Franco-Prussian War to the outbreak of World War I: i.e., from 1871 to 1914. The beginning of said period coincides with the birth (1870) of the French Third Republic—as well as the start (1873) of the Long Depression. The term became popular in France in the 1930s, apparently in nostalgic reference to a mythologised time before WWI. ==== Translations ==== === See also === Edwardian Pax Britannica === References === == French == === Etymology === Literally, “beautiful epoch”, coined in the 1930s. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /bɛl e.pɔk/ === Proper noun === la Belle Époque f (history, aesthetic) Belle Époque ==== Descendants ==== → English: Belle Époque