This is the beating heart of French Impressionism. In the late 19th Century, Manet, Monet, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, and many others met at the cafe’s in Paris. Like an artist’s Bohemian Club.

This is what Puccini’s La Boheme was inspired by. The artists went on to influence each other and it — in my perspective — is what broke the door open for Modern Art.

Brothels and slums were commonly depicted by La Boheme, and finally put the poor class on the art map. For centuries, only the wealthy who commissioned the paintings — controlled the art’s subject.

The French Impressionists changed that. I couldn’t do this Course and not pause to give homage to the French of the Bohemian Cafe.