1913–1923: The Spirit of the Times at Musée du quai Branly — Jacques Chirac
Anthropomorphic statue
19th - early 20th century
Nigeria
Wood, metal, organic materials
70.2013.39.1
© Musée du quai Branly — Jacques Chirac, photo Claude Germain
1913 – 1923
The Spirit of the Times
March 17, 2026 — September 20, 2026
Dive into the fascinating history of African and Oceanic arts in Paris, where objects from outside Europe and avant- garde works meet and shape a new vision of modern art together.
The early 20th century marked the introduction of African and Oceanic arts to Paris. These objects, initially perceived as ethnographic, have gradually been recognized as artworks in their own right, a major turning point in the history of Western art.
The art dealers Paul Guillaume, Joseph Brummer and Charles Vignier, along with intellectuals, poets and writers like Guillaume Apollinaire and avant-garde artists such as Vlaminck, Derain, Matisse and Picasso, were central to this movement. Their commitment led to a shift in the Western perception of these long-discounted objects, recognizing them as truly artistic pieces.
Through archive documents, photographs and sculptures from Africa and Oceania, 1913–1923: the Spirit of the Times shines a light on iconic exhibitions such as those at the Galerie Levesque (1913), Lyre et Palette (1916), Galerie Devambez (1919) and the Pavillon de Marsan at the Louvre (1923).
By retracing the history of how such arts were received, the exhibition evokes the inspiring atmosphere of the Montparnasse district. It also explores a historic decade, a time that witnessed the emergence of a new sector on the international art market.
Exhibition Preview
View of the Gabon window at the Pavillon de Marsan, Museum of Decorative Arts, Paris
© Library of the National Institute of Art History, Jacques Doucet Collections