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Loss of Intellectual Leadership by France
by France laexplorant
http://www.exploringfrance.com
Thinking of France instantly reminds us of the colossal
Eiffel Tower. Located in Paris, Eiffel Tower is one of the
major tourist attractions of the world and has an
interesting history too! It was in 1889 that Paris
unraveled Eiffel Tower to the world while hosting the
annual International Exhibition. Since then Eiffel Tower is
as popular as any other tower or monument of the world.
One of the exhibition areas was called the Machinery Hall,
and the same reporter, one Van Rensselaer, wrote that it
'clearly illustrated what impossibilities are possible
today'. It was undoubtedly a time of hope and faith in the
future, coming before the disasters of the two great world
wars.
At the International Exhibition many folk were even more
impressed by the art on offer. One thing is certain - at the
end of the nineteenth and the start of the twentieth
centuries, Paris was the undisputed capital of the arts. It
was one of those rare and special times when so many greats
congregated together to spark off one another and make
inspirational and groundbreaking art.
Apparently, Paris has also been home to some of the most
talented and popular artists. The greatest example is
certainly Pablo Picasso. In his younger years, Picasso came
to the enterprising city of Paris and made a niche for
himself. However, before Picasso's arrival at Paris, the
city had seen many great artists such as Paul Cezanne, who
was also a major inspiration to young Picasso. Picasso also
met another wonderful artist in George Braque with whom he
invented Cubism. Two Americans, namely Leo and Gertrude
Stein, have also been city's truly great artists.
When Picasso came to Paris, it was the age of the
Surrealists. This movement included artists and writers
from all over Europe and America. Picasso kept on working
on the sidelines of this movement. Some of the greats of
this period included Man Ray and Lee Miller
(photographers), Man Ray and Lee Miller (writers) and Andre
Duchamp and Salvador Dali (artists). However, this was in
doubt in the early part of the twentieth century when
most of the greats relocated to USA.
When the World War I broke out, artists in Europe were
severely affected. However, Paris did not lose its identity
even in these years. It remained as the hub of arts and
that is the reason why Henry Miller opted to shift to Paris
before the outbreak of World War II. Henry Miller has
mentioned this in his book 'Tropic of Cancer', which was
banned in the US.
Many would argue that the second World War finished off
Paris and France as the intellectual capital of the world.
Of course, Paris is still a fascinating and beautiful city,
and France still has philosophers who are household names...
but nothing will ever be like those years as the nineteenth
century turned to the twentieth.
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