Discover the history of department stores at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs de Paris
Le Bon Marché, Galeries Lafayette, La Samaritaine and many others shaped the Parisian urban landscape in the 19th century. Discover their history in a captivating exhibition at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris.
The Musée des Arts Décoratifs presents, from April 10 to October 13, 2024, an exhibition dedicated to the emergence of department stores. In the 19th century, these emblematic buildings became symbols of modernity and consumerism.
Le Bon Marché, Les Grands Magasins du Louvre, Au Printemps, La Samaritaine and Galeries Lafayette reveal their essence through the intertwined narratives of history, politics and society, from the Second Empire to their consecration at the 1925 Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes.
The birth of department stores at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs: a commercial revolution
The exhibition highlights the emergence and evolution of Parisian department stores from 1852 onwards. It illustrates their role in transforming the capital’s commercial and social landscape. Through a selection of 700 varied works, from posters to clothes, toys and decorative art, visitors plunge into the history of Parisian commerce .
For the record, department stores revolutionized retailing by introducing innovative concepts dedicated to women, prefiguring the advent of the consumer society. The exhibition explores themes such as the emergence of fashion, the invention of sales the evolution of marketing to children, and the development of mail-order sales. Through portraits of iconic entrepreneurs such as Aristide Boucicaut, founder of Le Bon Marché, the exhibition offers a fascinating insight into the pioneers of modern commerce.
She also discusses the central role of department stores in the construction of the figure of the Parisienne, and their impact on the democratization of fashion and access to goods for a large part of the population. By exploring these rich and varied themes, the Musée des Arts Décoratifs de Paris promises a captivating dive into the history and heritage of Parisian department stores!
Musée des Arts décoratifs – 107 Rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris
By Clémence BODEAU
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