The years between 1885 and 1900 are called the “Belle Époque” (beautiful era) of Paris, because of relative prosperity and enjoyment of the arts. There was also a “demi-monde” (half-world) of dancers at the Paris Opera or clubs like the Moulin Rouge in Montmartre. They were sometimes prostitutes or mistresses of wealthy men, as described in Colette’s famous novel Gigi.
