Flâneur

A 'flâneur' is a French term coined by nineteenth-century poet Charles Baudelaire to describe someone who casually strolls through modern life.

The concept of the flâneur, originating from the French word for 'strolling' or 'loafing,' emerged in mid-nineteenth-century Paris and later extended to other European cities, particularly Berlin. A flâneur was primarily a leisurely observer of city life, someone who wandered through urban landscapes, observing but not actively participating in what they witnessed. This allowed them to experience and analyse city existence from a detached, external perspective.

Despite their role as spectators, early flâneurs maintained and cherished their individuality and identity, often displaying flamboyant self-presentation. Many flâneurs were also artists and writers who used their observations to inform their creative work. This concept, particularly popular within Impressionist circles, underpinned the prolific streetscapes and depictions of popular entertainment in the art of Degas, Renoir, Caillebotte, and others. Additionally, it influenced twentieth-century art movements like Street Photography.