Bradley's newest series of paintings is inspired by the era of La Belle Epoch. Bradley's work has always been inspired by vivid colours, contemporary society in general and Parisian cafe society in particulay, and the era of the Belle Epoch in Paris is the inspiration for much of his work. Influences can be seen in the black lines that were the trademark of the new vogue of poster printing which sprang to life during this time as well as the use of women as much of the main focus of his paintings. 

LA BELLE EPOCH 1890-1914

“The beautiful time”, and the height of French poster fever and fashion. In 1891 Toulouse-Lautrec’s first poster, Moulin Rouge, boosted the status of the poster from ephemera to fine art. In France, the café was the center of life. Some Parisians ate three times a day at cafés, where they drank and people watched with their meals. Absinthe, champagne and other alcoholic beverages were daily tipples. 
According to Rosemary Lloyd, in her book Mallarme: the Poet and His Circle of Friends, “this was a time in which writers and artists were intensely involved in exploring contemporary society. The best-known group involved in exploring modern society was the Impressionists—Pierre Auguste Renoir, Claude Monet, Berthe Morisot, Edgar Degas and a few others.  They were known for their use of vivid colors, unique brush styles and tendency (except for Degas) to paint outside.