Vittorio Corcos | I sogni della Belle Époque

Vittorio Matteo Corcos (1859-1933) naque a Livorno da una modesta famiglia ebraica. Studia qui con il pittore Giuseppe Baldini, poi all’Accademia di Belle Arti di Firenze con Enrico Pollastrini (1875-78) e, grazie a una borsa del Comune di Livorno, a Napoli con Domenico Morelli (1878).

Dal 1880, per 6 anni, è a Parigi, dove presto firma un lungo contratto con la famosa galleria Goupil e frequenta prima il pugliese Giuseppe de Nittis, poi lo studio del ritrattista Léon Bonnat.

Paul Seignac | Niente ciliegie per te..

Il pittore Francese Paul Seignac (1826-1904) si specializzò in dipinti di genere che raffiguravano bambini, vita rurale e scene di vita quotidiana.

Nato a Bordeaux nel 1826, Seignac divenne allievo di Édouard Picot (1786-1868) a Parigi.

Molte delle opere di Seignac raffigurano bambini in ruoli teneri, a volte birichini, a volte intenti a giochi innocenti.

Paul Gustav Fischer | Belle Époque painter

Paul Gustav Fischer (1860-1934) was a Danish painter known for his naturalistic depictions of city life in Scandinavia and Europe.

Paul Fischer studied at the Royal Danish Academy of Art in Copenhagen.

His early works depicted city life and intricate relationships between its inhabitants.

As he became increasingly well-travelled he painted cities in Scandinavia, France and Italy.

David Garrett | Smile (Charlie Chaplin song) 🌹

In the final scene of Modern Times, Charlie and the gamine set off down the road to a new life.

When they get up off the grass verge to go, he pauses and points to the corners of his mouth, indicating that she should smile.

"Smile" has become a popular standard since its original use in Charlie Chaplin's film and has been recorded by numerous artists.

"Smile" is a song based on the theme song used in the soundtrack for Charlie Chaplin's 1936 film Modern Times.

Peter Demetz, 1969 | Hyperrealistic wood sculptor

Peter Demetz is best known for his incredibly realistic hand-carved sculptures of people, caught in contemplative, in-between moments.

His installations push beyond the framework of daily life, capturing the simple gestures and unique poses of his subject.

Peter Demetz was born in Bolzano-Italy and lives and works in Ortisei (BZ).

Coppélia, The Girl with the enamel eyes

Dr. Coppélius is a doctor who has made a life-size dancing doll.

It is so lifelike that Franz, a village youth, becomes infatuated with it and sets aside his heart's true desire, Swanhilda.

She shows him his folly by dressing as the doll, pretending to make it come to life and ultimately saving him from an untimely end at the hands of the inventor.

Edgar Degas | Woman Ironing, 1876-1887

Women at work provided inspiration for Degas.

In addition to ballet dancers and cabaret singers, he also painted milliners and dressmakers, laundresses and ironers-such as the young woman here.

Writer Edmond de Goncourt described a visit to Degas' studio when the artist showed him "washerwomen and still more washerwomen...."

Degas was interested in their movements and postures, the patterns and rhythms of their work.

Degas, de Goncourt continued, had gone about "speaking their language, explaining to us technically the downward pressing and circular strokes of the iron, etc...."

Edgar Degas | Woman Ironing, 1876-1887 | National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC