Edgar Degas, Milliners, 1882, Pastel on paper, 19 x 27 in. (48.3 x 68.6 cm), The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City

Emile Zola publishes Pot-Bouille.

Degas paints Repasseuse a contre-jour. (CHF)

Renoir paints Une baigneuse. (CHF)

Opening of musee Grevin, in the passage Jouffroy. This is a museum of circus dress and costume, and it was favorably received. You can visit it today at the same location, on this delightful passage. (AF) This passage is in the 9th arrondissement just north of blvd. Montmartre. It is part of a series of pedestrian passages running down to the Palais Royale. (AF)

Louise Michel and the anarchists are busy. She is charged with organizing a demonstration in memory of the commune and next year is charged with inciting a riot. Image from Almanach Francais.

Inauguration of the new l'Hotel de Ville. The earlier version was destroyed in the civil disturbances of 1871.

More broadly:

Under French supervision, work starts on the canal of Corinth in Greece (which continues until 1893). (CHF)

The English fleet bombards Alexandria. When the French Chamber of Deputies refused to finance a French element to this expedition against Egypt, that country became a British protectorate. (CHF)

The mummy of Rames II is discovered at Deir El Bahari. This ruin is impressive today and a stop on most Nile river trips in Egypt. (CHF)

The first vacation colony is created (a very early precursor to Club Med!). (CHF)

The Racing Club of France is created. (CHF)

Railroad dining service is introduced on a train between Paris and Vienna. (AF)

A restaurant named L'Assommoir in Lyon is bombed by anarchists. (AF)