Complex sentence: In fact, Montparnasse had replaced Montmartre as the artistic centre of Paris and he was part of the intense intellectual life which saw this quarter as the meeting place as well as the starting point of new artistic theories and experiences.
Split into simpler sentences: In fact, Montparnasse had replaced Montmartre as the artistic centre of Paris. He was part of the intense intellectual life which saw this quarter as the meeting place as well as the starting point of new artistic theories and experiences.