The second wave of American expatriates to Paris came at the closing of WWII, yet they came in less numbers, and only a few from the heyday of the 20s returned, namely Hemingway. Though the atmosphere and innovative ambience created by the Lost Generation in Paris in the 20s could never again be recreated, their contributions to the artistic community paved the way for future innovative seekers. Writers, artists, and students alike descended on Paris in the 50s and 60s seeking the same inspiration and atmosphere that once inspired some of the greatest artists in modern history; moreover, they were motivated by a sense of nostalgia for the achievements and experiences of the Lost Generation. In this sense, the Lost Generation were uncontested revolutionaries, showing future generations that freedom of expression and daring nuances in the arts could be achieved elsewhere if your homeland was not a conducive environment. They turned the stigma of an “expatriate” into something that was no longer frowned upon, but respected for striving to find an artistic voice. Of course, with the progression of American society, more liberties for artistic expressionism were allotted in artistic friendly communities such as New York and San Francisco, and “Young American writers and artists could begin to feel the same sort of artistic excitement and the same possibilities for freedom of expression at home that many had once sought abroad” (“Literary Expatriates in Paris”).
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