Grande Chaumiere (Academie de la Grande Chaumiere)

Research Status: Moderate Last Updated: 2026-02-10 Diary Coverage: Paris years

Overview

The Academie de la Grande Chaumiere was a private art school in the Montparnasse quarter of Paris, located at 14bis rue de la Grande-Chaumiere. Founded in 1904, the academy in its later form postdates Marie Bashkirtseff's life. However, the street and the area around it were already associated with artists' studios and art education in Marie's era. If referenced in the diary, it may refer to another atelier or studio in the same area, or to the general artistic neighborhood of Montparnasse that preceded the formal academy.

Historical Context

Montparnasse as Art Quarter

The area around the Rue de la Grande-Chaumiere was an emerging artistic neighborhood:

• Located in the 6th arrondissement, near the Luxembourg Gardens
• Various private ateliers and art schools operated in the area
• Artists' studios were affordable compared to more fashionable districts
• The neighborhood would become the center of the Parisian art world in the early 20th century

Art Education in Marie's Era

Paris offered multiple options for art training:

• Academie Julian: Where Marie primarily studied (Passage des Panoramas)
• Ecole des Beaux-Arts: The official state school (limited access for women)
• Private ateliers: Various masters offered instruction
• Open studios: Where artists could draw from models

Related Entries

• #Paris - The city
• #Salon - The exhibition venue for trained artists