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Using
revolutionary Paris as their backdrop, bohemians challenged
the status quo by rejecting mainstream values and mocking
the bourgeoisie.
However,
Bohemia remains difficult to define. Participants, including
writers, artists, students and youth, all contributed to the
feelings and ideas of bohemia in different ways; the one attribute
they shared was their rejection of the bourgeoisie.
The
image above, Octave Tassaert's
The Studio,
was painted in 1845, almost synonomously with the birth of
bohemian Paris. This image is a wonderful representation of
bohemia, with the young artist working intently in his messy,
unfurnished apartment. Despite his long hair and ragged clothes,
he is content to be working on the art that he loves.
This
is the true essence of bohemia.
A
website created by Courtney
Hopf, Leslie Kogan,
and Rachel Brown
for Mount Holyoke College's History 255: 'Les Miz and Les
Media.' Created February 2001 - May 2001.
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