The first years (1901-1914) - Google Arts & Culture (2024)

After the Universal Exhibition, the Grand Palais became a cultural and economic centre for the capital. It was a showcase for modernity in all its forms.

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Poster for the 4th exhibition of the Automobile club de France at the 1901 "Salon international de l'automobile" (International Motor Show), Grand Palais, Paris. (1901) by © Bibliothèque Forney / Roger-Viollet and Georges Rochegrosse (1859-1938).Original source: Roger Viollet photo agency website

Innovation and modernity

The Grand Palais welcomed all emerging trends. The pre-war years were defined by optimism and a thirst for discovery. The first Salon de l'automobile, du cycle et des sports opened its doors on 25 January 1901. It featured 600 stands and some celebrated exhibitors: Renault, Peugeot, Mercedes-Benz... Despite being held in the middle of winter in the unheated nave (some even named it "little Siberia"), the "Paris Motor Show" instantly became one of the most anticipated events in the calendar, attracting a growing number of visitors every year.

1912 motor show in the Grand Palais nave in Paris. (1912) by © photo Bnf /agence RolOriginal source: Bnf photo agency website

From 1901 to 1961, crowds rushed to discover the finest cars of the day and the latest innovations. By 1954, the number of visitors exceeded one million.

The early years of aviation. Opening day of the first air show at the Grand Palais, Paris in 1909. (1909) by © Ullstein Bild / Roger-ViolletOriginal source: Roger Viollet photo agency website

Aviation dreams

Just like the automobile, aviation was a voyage of discovery that defined the start of the new century. In September 1909, the nave hosted planes, airships and hot air balloons, earning the name "the great aviary". The star of the first Powered Flight Exhibition was the Blériot XI monoplane, in which Louis Blériot had recently crossed the Channel in just 37 minutes!

The first international "Salon de l'aéronautique" (air show) at the Grand Palais, Paris, 1909. (1909) by © Collection Roger Viollet / Roger-ViolletOriginal source: Roger Viollet photo agency website

The critic Louis Baudry De Saunier described the first Exhibition in "L'Illustration": "Mechanically powered flight (...) could not fail to capture the crowd's enthusiasm (...). The forces of law and order were even required to contain the sea of visitors! ".

Poster for the 1908 Salon d'Automne, 1 October to 08 November 1908. 6th annual exhibition. Grand Palais des Champs-Elysées. (1908) by © photo Bnf, 2015 and Maxime Dethomas (1867-1929)Original source: Bnf photo agency website

The Salon d’automne

In 1903, the art critic Frantz Jourdain created the Salon d'automne (autumn exhibition) to exhibit the latest trends in art. The first exhibition was held in the Petit Palais. It was such a success that the following edition in 1904 was held in the Grand Palais.

View of the 1904 Salon d'Automne exhibition. (1904) by Ambroise Vollard and © RMN-Grand Palais (musée d'Orsay) / Hervé LewandowskiOriginal source: Rmn-Grand Palais photo agency website

The 1904 exhibition featured a room dedicated to Paul Cézanne

The works on display included "Les Baigneurs", now at the Musée d'Orsay.

"Baigneurs", around 1890 (1890) by © RMN-Grand Palais (musée d'Orsay) / Hervé Lewandowski and Paul Cézanne (1839-1906)Rmn-Grand Palais

Agricultural competition during the cattle show at the Grand Palais, Paris, 23 February 1914. (1914-02-23) by Photo © BnF / agence RolOriginal source: Bnf photo agency website

The Concours agricole

The Concours agricole went on to become the Paris International Agriculture Show. On the clay floor of the nave, this livestock competition brought together the finest specimens along with 5,412 other animals. It was also the occasion to discover the latest machine tools such as threshing machines and the first tractors.

Paris colonial exhibition, July-November 1906, Grand Palais des Champs-Élysées. (1906) by Photo © BNF and Bouisset, Firmin (1859-1925). IllustrateurRmn-Grand Palais

The Exposition coloniale

At the start of the century, France was the second largest colonial power in the world after Britain. The Colonial Exhibition presented an exotic panorama with reconstructions of villages and demonstrations of traditional crafts. Films shot on location were also shown, alongside traditional dance and music performances.

1906 colonial exhibition at the Grand Palais, Paris. Postcard featuring the Sinhalese and Bayadères. (1906) by @All rights reservedRmn-Grand Palais

This exhibition of colonial France took place in the nave, in a redesigned décor.

Horse show in the Grand Palais nave, Paris, 1921: the jump circuit. (1921) by © BNF / Agence RolOriginal source: Bnf agency photo website

Horse Shows

Between 1901 and 1957, the Grand Palais celebrated the French equestrian arts. The Horse Shows took place over three weeks, and were a sporting and a social event. It all started with the parade: around 1,500 French horses, civilian and military, and as many riders, owners and groomers would travel from the four corners of France by train. Their parade through the capital was a spectacle in itself! The day before the trials, the animals were housed in the stables of the Grand Palais. The veterinary inspections were daunting, as was passing before the judges before reaching the track: judges would stand at the entrance, ready to refuse access to anyone who did not meet regulations.

Credits: Story

Nous souhaitons remercier chaleureusement toutes les personnes qui ont contribué à la conception de ce parcours Grand Palais et celles qui ont apporté gracieusement leur(s) information(s) et documents reproduits.

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The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions (listed below) who have supplied the content.

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The first years (1901-1914) - Google Arts & Culture (2024)

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