UPPER LAKE, Calif. – Lake County Wine Studio is hosting a book signing at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16, with Dr. Paul Marchand of Lakeport.

The book, “Living Art Nouveau, the Life and Art of Clotilde Druault Marchand, 1878-1930,” is a celebration of the life and art of Clotilde, Dr. Marchand’s grandmother, who lived during the time of the Belle Epoque, or “beautiful time.

The visual arts, painting and sculpture were only part of her story. She was also a musician, playing the mandolin when it was considered a classical instrument, playing with a symphony orchestra, as did her husband (Jules) Henri Marchand, a noted sculptor.

She was a wife, mother and an immigrant. She was in the first class in which women were allowed to study fine arts in the most prestigious art school in all of France, the Ecole de Beaux Arts de Paris. This placed her among the artistic giants of the era.

This was a time when art was no longer strictly representational. New arts no longer were needed to document reality. This was the birthplace of modern art. To be alive and in Paris at that time must have been extraordinary.

Understanding Art Nouveau and the title "Living Art Nouveau" requires a brief introduction to the Belle Epoque.

To really understand the changes in Paris of the latter half of the 19th century, a couple of important points must be understood.

The term Belle Epoque is often used to describe this period. Depending on who you read, this period is marked by the end of the Paris Commune (1871) to the beginning of the First World War (1914).

Other writers speak of Paris in the decade of 1890 to 1900 (certainly the height of the spirit of the time). Further confusion is the (less common) extension of this period to include the period between World War One and World War Two. Most people usually refer to the earlier time (1871 to 1914).

The Belle Epoque certainly was not universally beautiful for all people, but the economic rise of Western Europe, especially Paris, made it the epicenter of innovation.

After defeat in the Franco Prussian war in 1871, France – especially Paris – literally rose from ashes to become the intellectual, cultural, artistic and even fashion capital of the Western world.

The reasons were in part because of new technology. Advances in metallurgy meant steel strong enough to build massive structures such as the Eiffel Tower in 1887.

The economic power of the second industrial revolution provided Western Europe with a new upper middle class that was able to enjoy luxuries like newly invented electric lighting – in public streets and public buildings. Paris rightly became the “City of Light.”

Relative peace in Western Europe was contrasted with colonial conquests overseas; but the economic advantage of colonialism meant even more economic development. Mass transit transformed Paris into one of the most cosmopolitan cities in history. Because of the influence (in part) of the Paris Commune, relations among the church, state, and traditional authoritarian social values, became the focal point of intellectual discussion – setting a tone of rebellion.

The world of the liberal arts, from philosophy to fashion, flourished. This was a time when music, literature, architecture, poetry, sculpture and decorative arts were the order of the day. Consumerism was unashamed, with the advent of department stores from Printemps (1865) to Galaries Lafayette (1912) delighting the newly formed leisure class.

To be fashionable was to be refined. To be refined was to be educated and articulate, definitely not about frivolous diversions, and progressive. It was a time dominated by optimism and freedom from the constraints of previous social bias. Professional sporting events were begun, women's activism, including women entering the workforce, became much more common. The corset was shed in favor of the “femme sportive.” Photography had evolved enough to document newsworthy events in unblinking, if unforgiving, detail.

Clotilde Druault Marchand thrived because of talent and industry, but also the time in which she lived (1878 to 1930). Clues to the type of world she lived in are found in her work.

Join the Wine Studio in Upper Lake this Saturday afternoon to learn more and to see images of her works.

The Lake County Wine Studio is located at 9505 Main St., Upper Lake.