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A Short Bohemian History
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Published: September 27, 2006
General Bohemian History
Historically, a bohemian was an inhabitant of the Czech province Bohemia. The term refers to the Celtic tribe known as the Boii, who lived in the region from 500 to 200 B.C. Beginning in the 19th century, however, the bohemian tradition migrated to France where followers led nomadic and impoverished lives.
France's bohemian culture originated from many different events. One major event was the French Revolution from 1789 to 1799. Prior to the revolution, artists, particularly painters and engravers, were treated as tradesman. They made a living by working for a patron who financially supported them. However, the patron also dictated the subject matter of the artists' work. In general, it was considered low class for someone to sell his or her own art for profit. Much of the upper class viewed artists as poorly-educated lower class individuals, but writers like Honore de Balzac and Victor Hugo worked to elevate the artists' status in society.
Victor Hugo was known as the father of the Romantic Movement in France. In the preface to his first play Cromwell, Hugo challenged others to free themselves from traditional Classical structures in literature and drama. Much of the subject matter in Hugo's plays was seen as controversial. In particular, courtesan Marion de Lorme attacked the French monarchy, causing the play to initially be banned by the government.
For his next play Hernani, Hugo organized a Romantic army made up of young artists and writers dressed in outrageous fashions to fill the auditorium, preventing the show from being shut down on opening night. During the play, or what is now known as The Battle of Hernani, the large Romantic army spent the first hours locked in the auditorium causing chaos in the under-equipped theater. When the bourgeois arrived in time for the show they were appalled by the theater's condition and the eccentric young group. Throughout the performance, many debates and arguments continued between the opposing classes and continued during the entire run of the production. Many of the members of the Romantic army went on to make up much of the bohemian population.
Hugo, like many other bohemians, started out as part of the bourgeois elite. Much of the bohemian population was made up of disenchanted bourgeois youth who disagreed with the ideals of bourgeois society. Some believed France's growing industrial economy was destroying the natural beauty of the land for the sole purpose of financial gain. These youths disassociated themselves from the bourgeoisie and began developing the major ideals of bohemian life. Their behavior disregarded bourgeois norms, such as materialism and hard labor. They were viewed as carefree, rebellious and- to a certain extent- enlightened.
Communities of these bohemian artists and writers first began to develop in Paris in the Latin Quarter, then later in Montmartre. In these communities, known as Bohemia, bohemians lived together in squalid surroundings with little or no furnishings and labored over their crafts. During the time, they would gather in coffee shops and discuss the day's events, share ideas and observe the bourgeoisie.
One famous coffee shop was the Café Momus where writer Henri Murger and painter Gustave Courbet frequented. Muger was known for his collection of short stories called Scenes of Bohemian Life, which illustrated aspects of bohemian life in France. The work influenced Giacomo Puccini's famous opera La Bohemé, which later influenced the hit Broadway play Rent.
Bohemians were depicted in many novels and plays, including Victor Hugo's Les Miserables, George Sand's Horace and William Makepeace Thackeray's Vanity Fair. Bohemian influence can be found in many places and among many generations.
Historically, a bohemian was an inhabitant of the Czech province Bohemia. The term refers to the Celtic tribe known as the Boii, who lived in the region from 500 to 200 B.C. Beginning in the 19th century, however, the bohemian tradition migrated to France where followers led nomadic and impoverished lives.
France's bohemian culture originated from many different events. One major event was the French Revolution from 1789 to 1799. Prior to the revolution, artists, particularly painters and engravers, were treated as tradesman. They made a living by working for a patron who financially supported them. However, the patron also dictated the subject matter of the artists' work. In general, it was considered low class for someone to sell his or her own art for profit. Much of the upper class viewed artists as poorly-educated lower class individuals, but writers like Honore de Balzac and Victor Hugo worked to elevate the artists' status in society.
Victor Hugo was known as the father of the Romantic Movement in France. In the preface to his first play Cromwell, Hugo challenged others to free themselves from traditional Classical structures in literature and drama. Much of the subject matter in Hugo's plays was seen as controversial. In particular, courtesan Marion de Lorme attacked the French monarchy, causing the play to initially be banned by the government.
For his next play Hernani, Hugo organized a Romantic army made up of young artists and writers dressed in outrageous fashions to fill the auditorium, preventing the show from being shut down on opening night. During the play, or what is now known as The Battle of Hernani, the large Romantic army spent the first hours locked in the auditorium causing chaos in the under-equipped theater. When the bourgeois arrived in time for the show they were appalled by the theater's condition and the eccentric young group. Throughout the performance, many debates and arguments continued between the opposing classes and continued during the entire run of the production. Many of the members of the Romantic army went on to make up much of the bohemian population.
Hugo, like many other bohemians, started out as part of the bourgeois elite. Much of the bohemian population was made up of disenchanted bourgeois youth who disagreed with the ideals of bourgeois society. Some believed France's growing industrial economy was destroying the natural beauty of the land for the sole purpose of financial gain. These youths disassociated themselves from the bourgeoisie and began developing the major ideals of bohemian life. Their behavior disregarded bourgeois norms, such as materialism and hard labor. They were viewed as carefree, rebellious and- to a certain extent- enlightened.
Communities of these bohemian artists and writers first began to develop in Paris in the Latin Quarter, then later in Montmartre. In these communities, known as Bohemia, bohemians lived together in squalid surroundings with little or no furnishings and labored over their crafts. During the time, they would gather in coffee shops and discuss the day's events, share ideas and observe the bourgeoisie.
One famous coffee shop was the Café Momus where writer Henri Murger and painter Gustave Courbet frequented. Muger was known for his collection of short stories called Scenes of Bohemian Life, which illustrated aspects of bohemian life in France. The work influenced Giacomo Puccini's famous opera La Bohemé, which later influenced the hit Broadway play Rent.
Bohemians were depicted in many novels and plays, including Victor Hugo's Les Miserables, George Sand's Horace and William Makepeace Thackeray's Vanity Fair. Bohemian influence can be found in many places and among many generations.
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