French phrase meaning end of century. As historical term applies specifically to end of nineteenth century and even more specifically to decade of 1890s. Umbrella term embracing Symbolism, Decadence and all related phenomena (e.g. Art Nouveau) which reached a peak in that decade. Almost synonymous with terms the Eighteen-Nineties, the Mauve Decade, the Yellow Decade, the Naughty Nineties. Fin de siècle however expresses apocalyptic sense of end of a phase of civilisation. Spirit exemplified in France by Toulouse-Lautrec, and in Britain Beardsley and Conder. Real end came not in 1900 but with First World War 1914. (See also Edwardian.)