Bohème

Bohemian, or bohème in French, refers to a social and cultural milieu associated with artists, writers, and intellectuals who reject conventional middle-class norms in pursuit of creative expression. The term denotes a lifestyle marked by spontaneity, experimentation, poverty or precarious finances, and a skeptical stance toward material values. It emphasizes art and personal freedom over wealth and status.

Origin and development: The label arose in 19th-century Paris where a community of painters, writers, and performers lived in informal spaces in districts such as Montmartre and later Montparnasse. The name came from a mistaken belief that Romani people living in Bohemia were the origin of the lifestyle. A defining literary work is Henri Murger's Scenes de la Vie de Bohème (1840), which depicted the everyday lives of these artists; its popularity fed the romantic image of the bohemian artist and inspired Puccini's opera La Bohème (1896).

Characteristics: Bohemian circles prioritized creativity, improvisation, and solidarity. They often embraced nonconformist fashion, transient housing, casual relationships, and a cosmopolitan exposure to music, theater, literature, and visual arts. The movement influenced contemporary ideas about authenticity, artist communities, and urban culture.

Legacy: The bohemian idea persists in both historical context and modern usage. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries it influenced various art movements; in contemporary times, "bohemian" or "boho" styles describe certain fashion, interior design, and lifestyle choices that value artistic individuality, eclectic aesthetics, and a carefree, nonmaterial ethos. The French term bohème remains a standard label for this enduring cultural stereotype.