De Moderne Tijd - Volume 7, Issue 2/3, 2023

Abstract Through (other) artists’ eyes. Henri Evenepoel in Paris between pompierism and modernity In 1892 the aspiring Belgian painter Henri Evenepoel (1872-1899) moved from Brussels to Paris to finish his artistic training. In hundreds of lengthy letters to his family and friends, he described his impressions of the French capital and its inhabitants. The letters not only provide us with a vivid and amusing picture of fin- Read More

Abstract The Black Zone around the City of light. Roaming around the slums of Paris This article examines articles and letters written by the Dutch travel journalist and lecturer Mary Pos (1904-1987) who visited Paris in 1934 and 1937. What was her motivation to explore and report on the ‘slums’ of the capital city? Which details and figures of speech does she employ to represent the Parisian poor? Was Pos one of the ‘slu Read More

Abstract Bienvenue chez les apaches. Leo Faust as a guide through the Parisian underworld During the interwar years, Leo Faust worked in Paris as a correspondent for several Dutch newspapers, author of multiple tourist-guides, and owner of a Dutch restaurant. He cleverly combined these roles in order to convince potential tourists that they could rely on him to safely guide them through the Parisian night life. This article a Read More

Abstract W.G.C. Byvanck and the ‘Soul of Paris’ When Willem Byvanck published his Paris 1891 in January 1892, most reactions in the Netherlands were lukewarm, if not negative. Lodewijk van Deyssel, in particular, criticized the work, arguing that Byvanck “borrowed” nearly all his information from other sources. This view was far too short-sighted and, besides, neglected the work’s originality. In Paris 1891, Byvanck shows how Read More

Abstract The train monster and other inconveniences. The Paris travel journals of Truus and Marie van Eeghen, 1877 This article is based on the unpublished travel journals of two wealthy Amsterdam-based sisters who visited Paris in October 1877 with their father and brother. Truus (21) and Marie (23) van Eeghen stayed in the French capital for a week, which was for the most part a classic ‘Buildungsreise’. However, on sever Read More

Abstract Specator in Touristry. J.A. Naeff’s Parisian Trips around the World J.A. Naeff (1893-1942) is a Dutch former organizer in the tourism industry as well as travel writer and British spy. From December 1936 to May 1939 he wrote a weekly ‘tourism’ column for Haagsche post. In it, he shared his extensive experiences abroad and the latest tips and tricks for the contemporary tourist. Paris was a favorite destination. By discussi Read More