In the 1870s, gas lighting and water supply reached several neighborhoods, contributing to changes in aesthetic standards and the appearance of the city of Rio. The city's boundaries expanded and began to exclude whatever did not align with modernity. These were improvements considered necessary for a capital that was growing in population, welcoming the “crème de la crème” of the nation's political intelligentsia, and presenting itself as Brazil's political and cultural center. Buildings, under strong European influence, were becoming increasingly eclectic, combining neoclassical elements with other architectural styles. By the end of the century, the presence of the
art nouveau
It was still small and announced itself in the details: staircases, windows, façades, and stained-glass windows heralded the new.
Fashion houses multiplied, as did bookshops and stores selling imported goods. Confectioneries set the tone for what was modern, with their refined façades and interiors, such as the Confeitaria Colombo, founded in 1894. But alongside all this civilizing movement, and even because of it, the city's downtown area saw an increase in the number of street vendors and occupations considered less prestigious. The city staggered between its colonial past and its desire for modernity.
Image description: This is a black and white photograph of an elegant hall, likely belonging to a restaurant or hotel. On the left side, we see large mirrors reflecting the light and the surroundings. In the center, there is a round table with chairs arranged around it. Moving to the right, more tables and chairs can be seen, arranged symmetrically. In the background, there is a large window with a panoramic view, and above it, a balcony with more mirrors. The ceiling is rounded and decorated with ornamental details. In the upper right corner, there is an inscription reading "ARQUIVO GERAL DA CIDADE DO RIO DE JANEIRO."Interior of Confeitaria Colombo. N/D. Rio de Janeiro, RJ. Brasiliana Fotográfica - Biblioteca Nacional
Downtown was the place of noise, crowds, and work, and in the nineteenth century the wealthiest began to distinguish that environment from the place set aside for leisure and family life. Cidade Nova and the South Zone started to become more inhabited, houses grew increasingly spacious, and their architecture more sophisticated, incorporating elements of the
art nouveau
and determining what was intended for the future. Even so, the city still resembled Eastern cities more than European ones. The colonial tradition had left its mark, and it was necessary to try to erase it.
Image description: This is an old black-and-white photograph showing a bustling market. On the left, two women carry large baskets of fruit on their heads. In front of them, a man seen from behind is also holding a large basket. In the center, several people are arranging and selling produce in stacked baskets. In the background, there are buildings with sloped roofs and a circular structure with a covering. On the right, other individuals are engaged in commercial activities.Street vending and the presence of kiosks frustrated the elite's desire to build a European city. Praia do Peixe Market, 1890s. Photo by Juan Gutierrez - Juan Gutierrez Collection/ Brasiliana Fotográfica
One of the most emblematic examples were the
Since the 1870s, kiosks had functioned as places of consumption for manual laborers and the city's less privileged classes. Faced with the terrible hygiene conditions and the large concentration of poor people, the elites and the press began to condemn the existence of kiosks.
The press played an important role in building the image of a European capital, in keeping with the imagination of Rio's elites: newspapers announced the latest news and helped shape opinions. The idea of a city of "reason" (literate and enlightened) was beginning to take shape.
