ABSTRACT
The Societe des trois's evolution began with the origins of its members' artistic identities. Young artists from the countryside flocked to Paris not only for the possibility of monetary success, but also because of the celebrated training available there. Baron Haussmann's plans included the creation of retail zones within the city; previously, each community had depended primarily on its own inhabitants for goods and services without needing to travel through the city. Young artists in Paris, such as those that went on to form the Societe des trois, found themselves in a dynamic and turbulent environment during the early years of the Second Empire. The variations in Henri Fantin-Latour and Alphonse Legros's interests, training, and background provide essential insight to the professional artists they would become both individually and as the Societe des trois. Fantin's contributions offer more variety, which, again, is indicative of his future practice and offers insight into his later artistic programme.
