Champs Elysees in Paris is today one of the most popular tourist destinations of the world.

Many enjoy it, but few know its history. Discuss how it came into being in the context of the Haussmanization of Paris, paying attention to the social context, main principles and goals of Haussmanization, the architecture of the boulevard, and improvements in infrastructure. In the 1850s, amidst the industrial revolution which was spreading throughout Europe, a man named Georges-Eugne Haussmannreceived a project to revolutionise Paris, renovating it from a medieval city to a modern one.This project is often known as The Hausmannisation of Paris, lasting from 1853-1870. This massive renovation changed various aspects of Parisian life, including social and political, technological and constructional. With the destruction of a medieval city and building a new Paris on top, brings with it many challenges and triumphs. Socially, Paris was changing too. A prime example of a remodeled section of Paris is the well renowned Champs Elysees, a section that is now synonymous with class and affluence. This famous strip of road that wafts air of affluence was once just a mere dirt road, until 1616 when the Queen of Paris, Marie de Medici decided to extend the garden axis of her Palace, Palais des Tuileries, with an avenue of trees. In 1724 the palace and the avenue was connected to become Champs de Elysees, extended to Chaillot Hill (now known as l'Etoile the site for the Arc du Triomphe) and later in 1828 the avenue became city property, with the addition of city fountains, gas lighting and footpaths.1 It was Haussmann who then paved the avenue and revamped it to become what it today. The apartment lined street is now a fashionable destination for people all around the world. From a medieval dirt road to a modern boulevard. Champs Elysees over the years has become attracted social interest. The first mark left by the French Emperors taste for monuments was the Arc de Triomphe du Carousel erected in the courtyard of the Louvre, on the former Tuilleries Palace2. Then the larger Arc de Triomphe de lEtoile commenced. When in 1836, taking thirty years, it was finally completed, it was a mark of the victories of the French Revolution. Today Champs Elysees is a modern Paris boulevard that houses prominent high-end designer labels such as Louis Vuitton and Dior. Designer fashion labels such as these often attract the higher-class in society, the dignified and educated. Throughout the years Champs Elysees has received a high interest amongst people, considering its modest beginnings. Modernity is often associated with the fleeting and constant change, as well as ambiguity. Charles Baudelaires idea of modernity was this society which was in a state of constant change, its about the fleeting3, one could argue that Paris was in this state of constant change. Roads being built which replaced the cramped, narrow alleys, old buildings demolished and being replaced with new ones, numerous people entering and exiting the city. Baudelaire argues that in modern life nothing is static, its always moving; it is filled with kinetic energy. The ambiguity which took place in Paris can be seen in the classic, stereotypical apartment block faade developed by Haussmann which unified the city together with the commonly known design, much like the apartments that line the sides of the Champs Elysees. The garret roof, the ornamental set pillars, rectilinear gridded design are characteristics for Haussmanns ubiquitous design. At times just artificial facades placed in front of the old haphazard and impoverished blocks, as this was a quick resolution for the problem at hand. This illusion produced by the polished faade made it harder for people to see the same problem, this once apparent problem became less so.

History of Avenue des Champs-Elysees, Places in France, <http://www.placesinfrance.com/history_des_champselysees.html>, (accessed 12 May 2013) 2 Haussmann, Director History Department, <http://www.parisrama.com/english%20version/pages_history/haussmann.htm>, (accessed 14 April 2013)
3

Frascina, Francis et al., Modernity and Moderism: French Painting in the Nineteenth Century, YaleUniversity Press, London, 1993, p6-8

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Champs Elysees in Paris is today one of the most popular tourist destinations of the world. Many enjoy it, but few know its history. Discuss how it came into being in the context of the Haussmanization of Paris, paying attention to the social context, main principles and goals of Haussmanization, the architecture of the boulevard, and improvements in infrastructure. Haussmanns hand on the seat of power was not gentle; in fact he was contrary to gentle. The Haussmannisation of Paris was a long needed regime; Louis Napoleon spoke about the necessity of paving new roads, opening up popular quarters which lack air and sunlight4. With approximately 500,000 chimneys excreting smoke into the air, covering Paris in hazy smog, was entangling the overcrowded city in confusion5. During Haussmanns reign over the remodeling of Paris, if a wide boulevard was needed or public spaces such as parks deemed necessary, buildings were razed. Being confronted with an overcrowded medieval city, Haussmann decided to fully revolutionise French history, still a medieval city in the 19th century meant that Paris was considered to be quite dated. This scheme was a plan to transform an old medieval city, a cauldron of disease, into a grand city which was soon to become the capital of modernity. Out of this constant demolition and construction of a city, a group of artists who called themselves impressionists emerged. These artists documented the Parisian social conditions of around that time. Impressionists often depict the ambiguity that Baudelaire discusses. Certain characteristics of impressionistic paintings can be seen in its typical rough brush strokes, ambiguity of forms, and heightened colours. Impressionists were considered modern during its debut, it challenged traditional accepted art practices. The pure realistic approach to painting became less so important, impressionists were more interested in documenting the fleeting6. For example, Champs Elysees by Edouard Cortes in an impressionistic painting that depicts a hazy wet afternoon, the typical rough brush work heightens the ambiguity of the figures. The lack of realistic facial form on the figures may be seen as a representation of a modern day aspect of life, where there is a loss of connection between the people. Cortes documents a Champs Elysees after the great Haussmannisation that took place there. The aim of all this destruction and construction was to regenerate the urban fabric which deeply impressed the population of the time,7 Michel Carmona is a professor and specialist in the field of Parisian town and country planning and urban geography. Carmona suggests that Haussmann desired to improve the condition of life in Paris. By building a city upon a city, Haussmann achieved to carry out a grand plan which ultimately was probably the largest urban regeneration program in history. According to him, the citizens of Paris were thoroughly impressed by the Haussmannisation of their city, which brought Paris energy, air, light and health. Paris was remodeled; one aspect was its traffic system, replacing the dark narrow alleys with scenic boulevards. For many years Paris was growing without any plans, with the population doubled between 1800 and 1850. By 1848 the narrow, dark streets which interlaced Paris was becoming polluted not only with filth and garbage but also smoke and noise8. The streets were packed with traffic and animal excretions, forming cesspools overnight due to the frequent rains which are received in that locale9, this medieval urban sanitation problem became a source of medical
4 5

Harvey, David, Paris, Capital of Modernity, Routledge, New York, 2003, p.107 Carmona, Michel, Haussmann: his life and times and the making of modern Paris, Librairie Artheme Fayard, 2000, p.114
6

Frascina, Francis et al., Modernity and Moderism: French Painting in the Nineteenth Century, YaleUniv ersity Press, London, 1993, p.7
7

Carmona, Michel, Haussmann: his life and times and the making of modern Paris, Librairie Artheme Fayard, 2000, p.152
8 9

Earls, Irene. JGC, 2005. 0. <http://www.ohio.edu/chastain/rz/parisstr.htm>. (accessed 14 April 2013) Forgeng, Jeffry L. Medieval Europe. Westport, Conneticut: Greenwood Publishing Group, 1999. p188

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Champs Elysees in Paris is today one of the most popular tourist destinations of the world. Many enjoy it, but few know its history. Discuss how it came into being in the context of the Haussmanization of Paris, paying attention to the social context, main principles and goals of Haussmanization, the architecture of the boulevard, and improvements in infrastructure. epidemics. It was this urban sanitation and overcrowding problem that was making it necessary to replace these dark alleys into the picturesque tree lined boulevards that are often associated with the city. Under Haussmanns control, a new scheme for traffic was developed. A system of boulevards and nodes replaced the outdated, cramped and unhygienic alleys. These nodes formed where the boulevards intersected forming focal points around the city, one of which is the Arc de Triomphe.10 These boulevards allowed people to move around easier, promoting industrial growth, because the newly carved and paved network made citizens for the first time easier to move around, cutting transportation time. The upgrading of the transportation system is one of the many various improvements that took place in Paris. In Manets impressionistic painting A Bar at the Folies-Bergre. Robert L. Herbert, an art historian whose specialty is in impressionism, informs the connection between Manets painting and its representation of modern Paris. Manet depicts an image of a scene in a bar, where a female figure of some sort is conversing or engaging in social contact with a man. We see this male flaneur on the reflection of the wall mirror behind the barmaid. Her face lacks any true expression except that of self containment, her dignified and poised form suggests that she may not be a true barmaid or prostitute, but maybe a sales-clerk or student, it is not all that obvious. Although, one can surmise that this female figure may not be a prostitute because one would expect a prostitute to be more forthcoming. In his austere figure, we find the anonymity and arbitrary encounters inherent in modern life11. Herbert is referring to the day to day encounters that the people of the modern world live in today, the modernization of Paris was a key driving force which lead to the detachment of Parisians from one another, the constant destruction and construction of physical Paris lead to the social destruction of the old Paris and the emergence of a new form of social interaction.

10

TijanaVujosevic, State, Bourgeoisie and City Planning, (lecture, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, 21 March 2013)
11

Herbert, Robert L., Impressionism: Art, Leisure and Parisian Society, Yale University Press, London, 1988, p.80

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