In 1910, French engineer Georges Claude publicly demonstrated practical neon tube lighting at the Paris Motor Show, creating bright, colorful signs. The technology offered efficient, long-lasting illumination. Neon transformed urban landscapes, advertising, and nightlife, becoming a vivid motif in modernist poetry evoking modernity, spectacle, and the electric pulse of cities.

Neon lighting, introduced in 1910, transformed urban landscapes and inspired poets like Frank O'Hara to capture the vibrancy of city life. The bright signage and nightlife imagery became central to modernist poetry, reflecting the excitement and chaos of urban existence.