The artist discover Montmartre in the 19th century
The Bateau Lavoir perfectly embodies the bohemian spirit of Montmartre in bygone days.
This unassuming building welcomed some of the most talented and innovative artists of the late 19th and early 20th centuries , who were then at the beginning of their careers.
The painters Géricault and Horace Vernet were among the first to settle in the rural and affordable Montmartre at the beginning of the 19th century.
Corot, Monet and Manet, who would become the great masters of Impressionism, arrived in the 1870s.
Their innovative style broke radically with the academic traditions of previous centuries and obviously sparked considerable controversy at the time!
One painting, now world-renowned, gave its name to this revolutionary new style: “Impression, Sunrise” illustrates Monet’s then highly controversial technique and his use of light.
Many talented but penniless young artists, who would later achieve international renown, followed in their footsteps and flocked to Montmartre, drawn by its affordable rents and village charm.
Montmartre was above all an artistic sanctuary where these artists could give free rein to their imagination and push the boundaries of their creativity.
They indeed transformed the village into the undisputed heart of arts and letters until the First World War.
Le Bateau Lavoir, a cheap and cheerful artist residence
The artists lived in cheap housing, often in dilapidated buildings hastily converted by their owners.
One such building, transformed in 1890, became known as the “Bateau-Lavoir” (Laundry Boat).
Due to the slope of the land, the rear of this two-story building overlooked the gardens, while only the upper floor faced Place Ravignan, now Place Émile Goudeau. A long wooden corridor, reminiscent of the narrow gangway of a steamboat, ran along the garden-facing facade and provided access to 25 tiny studios.
This layout stimulated the fertile imagination of the painter Max Jacob, who nicknamed it “Le Bateau” (The Boat). The building also lacked running water, and a single tap served all the tenants. The building was far from being a laundry either (Lavoir)! By today’s standards, “Le Bateau-Lavoir” was far from being a five-star hotel. It was an unsanitary place, where artists shared their cramped spaces with a veritable army of cockroaches!
Le Bateau Lavoir, home to the greatest artists of the 19th and 20th century
Directions: 18th District – Place Émile-Goudeau – Rue Ravignan
Coordinates: Lat 48.886113 – Long 2.337766
Discover more on Montmartre
Montmartre Village Place du Tertre – Petit Cimetiere du Calvaire – Saint-Pierre-de-Monmartre – Saint-Jean-de-Montmartre Church – Montmartre Abbey Sanctum Martyrium Crypt – Montmartre – Montmartre Cemetery – Saint-Vincent Cemetery – Le Passe Muraille sculpture – Mur des Je t’Aime – Abbesses Art Nouveau Metro station – Moulin Rouge – Montmartre grape harvest festival
Photo via Wikimedia Commons: Circa 1960 Public domain
