Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Berthe Morisot et sa fille, Julie Manet, 1894, oil on canvas, 32 x 25 3/4 in. According to Artnet.com (2003 copyright date on the page) this painting sold for $8,000,000. During his life Renoir often had trouble making ends meet.

Emile Durkheim published his Regeles de la methode sociologique. (CHF)

Paris now has a citywide sewer system.

Captain Dreyfus, accused of espionage, is condemned to deportation. He was accused of passing military secrets to the Germans. (AF)

Debussy composes Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun. It is presented in Paris. It was inspired by an earlier poem by Mallarme, illustrated by Monet. (AF)

The first football championship is played in Paris. (AF)

Anarchists remain active. Emile Henry throws a bomb at cafe in the gare de Nord, injuring 24 and killing one. Another bomb explodes at 69 rue St. Jacques (5th arrondissement) killing one person. There are other bombings in Paris this year, and the police are active in arresting anarchists. (AF)

Le Douanier Rousseau paints La Guerre.

An art critic coins the expression "art nouveau." (CHF)

More broadly:

An anti diphtheria serum is developed by Emile Roux. (CHF)

The famous French 75 makes it appearance. This is a 75 millimeter canon. (CHF)
 
 
 

Left: Cezanne, Self Portrait in a Felt Hat, 1894.

Right: Cezanne, Forest, 1894.