Located partially in both the 6th and the 14th arrondissements on Paris's Left Bank, the small bohemian district of Montparnasse was a hotbed of creative activity in the early part of the 20th century, attracting artists and writers from all over the world. Almost every artist featured in the annals of modern painting passed through Montparnasse during the years between the two World Wars. Severini, the cofounder of futurism, came from Italy; Foujita came from Japan. In black-and-white photos you'll also find Rousseau, Matisse, Chagall, Modigliani, Soutine, Picasso, Man Ray, Giacometti, and their apartments, studios, and favorite cafés. Vintage photographs of Montparnasse, juxtaposed with the more than 150 color illustrations of the artworks created, evokes the sense of nostalgia that still permeates the area.

THE CURTAIN RISES ON MONTPARNASSE; THE ACTORS ARE ALL ASSEMBLED ON STAGE: MATISSE THE TEACHER, MODIGLIANI THE DANDY, THE GREAT PICASSO, ALONG WITH CHAGALL, SOUTINE,LEQER. FOUJITA AND COUNTLESS OTHERS, AS THEY MEET UP AT THE TERRASSE OF LA ROTONDE OR LA COUPOLE, PAINTING AND SCULPTING IN RAMSHACKLE STUDIOS AT LA RUCHE OR ALONG THE BOULEVARDS, INDULGING iN UNINHIBITED REVELRY... AND SELLING THEIR CREATIONSTO WEALTHY TRANSATLANTIC COLLECTORS.

AS THE MODERN MOVEMENT GATHERED ITS SAILS, MONTPARNASSE, OVER A PERIOD OF MORE THAN TWENTY YEARS, STAMPED ITS NAME iN THE ANNALS OF ART HISTORY.

Ⅰ.THE CURTAIN RISES ON MONTPARNASSE

 From Montmartre to Montparnasse,

 modern art moves to the Left Bank

 Two Montparnasse painters in the wings:

 gullible Rousseau and professorial Matisse

 A hive of activity at La Ruche

 Modigliani in Gauguin's footsteps

 Rue de la Grande Chaumiere

 Americans in Paris

Ⅱ.ALL ON STAGE FOE THE ROARING TWENTIES

 A blazing beacon: Pablo Picasso

 The Russian years

 Carrefour Vavin: focus of all the talents

 Man Ray and the gleaming lights of the Montparnasse cafes

 A buyers' market

 Sculptors galore

 A moveable feast

Ⅲ.SURREALLSM IN MONTPARNASSE:THE FINAL CURTAIN

 Lilacs in Rue Blomet

 A hotel in Rue du Chateau

 Alberto Giacometti: the last actor takes his bow

 Epilogue

 A walk through artistic Montparnasse

 Bibliography