Removed from the glamour of Paris during the French Belle Époque, the village-like district of Montmartre offered a bohemian refuge for many poets and artists. Esprit Montmartre explores this rich period of artistic production, its sociopolitical contexts and how they continue to influence the image of the artist and his subjects today.

The publication gathers paintings, posters and graphics by Montmartre's famous inhabitants. Among them are van Gogh, Picasso, Degas and Toulouse-Lautrec, all of whom were influenced by the notorious district. The images are juxtaposed with explanatory maps and historical photographs by Eugène Atget. The paintings portray everyday street scenes such as strolling flâneurs and destitute beggars. The book records the effects of urbanisation and the boisterous Montmartre nightlife, including the legendary Moulin Rouge, and examines the entire artistic and intellectual microcosm of Montmartre around 1900 with its rare accumulation of outstanding works.