The turn of the 20th century was a golden age for France. It was a time of peace, prosperity, and progress after a series of traumatic wars and unrest, culminating in the Franco-Prussian War, which had ended in 1871. From the ruins of conflict, the Belle Époque brought a flourishing of joie de vivre, with a rise in art, design, industry, technology, gastronomy, education, travel experiences, and nightlife.

Through approximately 800 vintage photographs, postcards, posters, and photochromes from the extensive archives of Marc Walter and Photovintagefrance, "France 1900" follows TASCHEN's best-selling vintage photographic collections, "Italy 1900," "The Grand Tour," and "America 1900," offering a valuable record of France in the splendor of the turn of the century. With the photochrome technique used in many of the images to restore the past in vivid color, we enjoy a keen, bittersweet encounter with this hopeful era: the bold, rocky splendor of Mont Saint-Michel, the icy peaks of Chamonix, and the honeyed light of the Côte d’Azur.

With an introduction, six essays, and detailed commentary from Sabine Arqué exploring the stories behind the images, this is an unrivaled portrait of a country on the brink of the century and its poignant euphoria before the absurdity of World War I. While paying tribute to the cherished Belle Époque, crushed by the traumas of history, it also celebrates the enduring allure of La Belle France, its beauty, culture, traditions, and legendary romance.

Pages: 560, Year of Publication: 0430, Dimensions: 25x25cm