Exposition « Fiat lux ! Une quête effrénée de lumière au XIXᵉ siècle »

"Abolishing the night": in the 19th century, gas and electricity transformed cities, interiors and ways of life.

In the 19th century, a historic breakthrough occurred. Mankind embarked on an enterprise then considered sheer madness: abolishing the night! "Fiat lux !" invites you to relive this fascinating epic, from the flickering glow of candles and oil lamps to the revolutionary brilliance of gas and then electricity. From the first Parisian gas burners to the challenges of electrification in Lille, immerse yourself in the bustling energy of a century in pursuit of comfort and progress. Discover how these new energy sources transformed our cities and homes, made streets safer and reshaped our ways of living, working and entertaining ourselves. Through a multitude of historical objects on loan from institutions including the Musée Carnavalet, explore one of the great human adventures that ushered our society into modernity.

Curators: Thomas DESCHAMPS, Marie LEFEBVRE, Camille ROUSSEL

With the support of Ara KEBAPÇIOǦLU, Lumière de l’œil

This exhibition benefits from major loans from the Musée Carnavalet-Histoire de Paris