Batignolles, our neighborhood has been called the birthplace of Impressionism.  That is, at least by the “Encyclopedia of Impressionism.”

I had earlier noticed while looking at Impressionist paintings in the Musee D’Orsay that a street in our neighborhood, Batignolles, was mentioned.  However, last night while reading the Encyclopedia of Impressionism,  I happened upon a few pages devoted to Batignolles and which explains why it is the birthplace of Impressionism.

Here the a painting I saw at the Musee D’Orsay that had earlier caught my eye. It is called L’Atelier de Bazile.  It caught my eye because the address of the atelier, 9 Rue de la Condamine, is just one block over from our apartment.  Bazile rented a large studio there and entertained musicians and artists. The painting itself shows Zola, Renoir, Monet, and Manet.

What else happened in our neighborhood?  Manet had a studio here and lived here.  Caillebotte painted the Rue de Clichy (Rue de Paris, temps de pluie),  Renoir and Bazile both lived at 9 Rue de la Condamine.

It seems overall, that it was the hangout for these artists and more.  A nearby cafe, Cafe Guerbois on what is now Rue de Clichy was the site of meetings of these artists.  Others included Sisley, Pissarro and Degas.  The name given the group was the “Batignolles Group.”