 Until the 19th century, France was attractive for many foreigners as a rich country. Since the 13th century, Paris had been an intellectual center. Many merchants too, from Flanders and Germany came to France, around Lyons.  From the 16th to the 18th century, French sovereigns and intellectuals expressed their tastes for the Italian customs.

Do you know a famous Italian artist who lived in France during the Renaissance ?

One of the most famous artists is of course Leonardo da Vinci, protected from Francis I of France, and the influence of the Medicis family has lasted over the years.

 Moving to France, many Italians and some Germans prepared the social and political mutation that will happen with Napoleon Bonaparte’s campaigns.  After 1815, many Italians and Spanish followed this liberal immigration, fighting for freedom.  After 1848, minorities came from the East, including Polish people running away from the tsarist repression, like Frederic Chopin.

 After 1850, around 700,000 to 800,000 people immigrated, coming from all over Europe, but most of the foreigners were Belgian (working for the industry in the North) and Italian (having odd-jobs like taylors, shoemakers, masons…). They didn’t really care about getting the French citizenship.  On the other hand, until 1870, the German migrants asked for the French nationality, like Jacques Offenbach (wait for the Farewell party !)

 France opened the borders to the political refugees : the country was still considered as the symbol of freedom, at least because of the clash of values after the war.  In 1929, after the Crash, France still was the first country of immigration for the number of foreigners on its soil.  Paris was the center of a modern artistic revolution, France appeared as an ideal option for those who contested the rules and wanted to avoid the traditions as the Surrealists did.

 Surrealism is a cultural movement that began in the early 20's, and is best known for its visual artworks and writings. The aim was to 'resolve the previously contradictory conditions of dream and reality.' Artists painted unnerving, illogical scenes with photographic precision, created strange creatures from everyday objects They allowed the unconscious to express itself.  With the founder André Breton, the main members were Max Ernst (German), Giorgio de Chirico (Italian), Salvador Dali, Joan Miro and Luis Bunuel (Spanish), Man Ray (American).

 Man Ray, Le violon d’Ingres 1924

 He definitely moved to France in During the first years, he was close to the Surrealists  Woman’s bust, 1907

 The reconstruction involved a new workforce.  The Italians still represented the biggest minority.  After 1931, the Polnish came at the second rank (more than 500,000 people), their strong solidarity explains why they’re less integrated.  But after 1939, the contribution to the war effort helped minimize this aspect.

 During the 19th century, France suffered from a demographic crunch, and the situation became worse at the end of the century. It was seen as a sign of decadence.  From 1880 on, new emigrants from Eastern Europe arrived, most of them were very poor but the emancipation of the Jews after the French Revolution was a promise of freedom, dignity and humanity.  The Polish Jews mostly stayed in Paris, where they showed strong solidarities, but they still wanted to be part of the French nation.  After 1889, the law made it easier to get the French nationality but at the same time xenophobia and antisemitism were dangerously increasing.