belle époque

Proper noun capitalized: Belle Époque

the Belle Époque (uncountable)

1. A period of European history, extending over several decades until the start of the First World War, characterized by artistic and cultural refinement.
   • Among these cultured hostesses, a leading figure in the belle époque was the Comtesse de Greffulhe.1973, Raymond Rudorff, The Belle Époque: Paris in the Nineties, Saturday Review Press, page 240
   • Spanning the turn of the century and capitalizing on fortunes accumulated before the democratizing notion of income tax existed, the Belle Époque held out a lavish style of life to the relative few who could afford it.2008, Ellen Hymowitz, “1900-1918”, in Jill Condra, editor, The Greenwood Encyclopedia of Clothing Through World History, Volume 3: 1801 to the Present, Greenwood Press, page 89
2. (broadly) (aesthetic) A style of art and architecture characterized by opulence, eclecticism, and organic dynamism, blending historical revival styles (Neo-Baroque, Neo-Gothic) with the flowing lines of Art Nouveau, utilizing new materials like iron and glass for decorative elements, and celebrating modern life with vibrant colors and natural motifs, reflecting the era's optimism, luxury, and technological progress.