Exhibition: “Art Workshops in Department Stores”
Located in the heart of Île Saint-Louis, the Hôtel du Jeu de Paume Paris is delighted to highlight one of the most eagerly awaited cultural events of the winter: the exhibition “Les Ateliers d'art des grands magasins” (The Art Workshops of Department Stores), presented at the Bibliothèque Forney from November 4, 2025, to February 28, 2026. An ideal outing for lovers of decorative arts, history, and Parisian heritage.
An exceptional tribute to the art workshops of Parisian department stores
To mark the centenary of the 1925 International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts, the Bibliothèque Forney is dedicating a major exhibition to the four artistic workshops that shaped the Art Deco aesthetic:
- Primavera du Printemps
- Pomone du Bon Marché
- La Maîtrise des Galeries Lafayette
- Studium Louvre des Grands Magasins du Louvre
Created between 1912 and 1922, these workshops were run by some of the biggest names in interior design: Charlotte Chauchet-Guilleré, Paul Follot, Maurice Dufrène, and Étienne Kohlmann. They contributed to the democratization of the Art Deco style through original creations, produced in small series and at affordable prices.
The exhibition brings together a collection of remarkable works:
- furniture
- fabrics and wallpaper
- ceramics
- glass objects
- posters, catalogs, photographs, and archives
The Bibliothèque Forney draws on its own collections as well as those of major institutions such as Mobilier National, Tassinari-Chatel, Pierre Frey, and the heritage archives of Parisian department stores.
The event poster features an elephant motif from a repeating pattern wallpaper created around 1918-1920 by Primavera (Credit: Repeating pattern wallpaper, Paris. Primavera, Impr. Le Mardelé).
📍 Bibliothèque Forney, 1 rue du Figuier, Paris 4th arrondissement
⏱️ Tuesday to Saturday, 1pm to 7pm
📅 November 4, 2025 → February 28, 2026
🎟️ Free admission
☎️ +33 (0)1 42 78 14 60
✉️ bibliotheque.forney@paris.fr
A 10-minute walk from the Hôtel du Jeu de Paume, the Bibliothèque Forney is housed in the Hôtel de Sens, one of the most beautiful medieval buildings in Paris.
Photo credit : https://www.paris.fr/evenements/expo-les-ateliers-d-art-des-grands-magasins-vitrines-de-l-art-deco-91661
