26 February 2025
22 June 2025
Immerse yourself in the history of the war of ideas and minds waged by Free France between 1939 and 1945. In a context where Free France and General de Gaulle were not yet recognized by the major Allied powers, culture became a tool of legitimacy and resistance.
Through a rich collection of documents, works of art, literary writings, scientific works and cinematographic creations, you can learn how artists in exile such as Calder, Zadkine and Saint-Exupéry, among others, led intellectual and artistic initiatives to defend their values and oppose Nazi ideology, from London, the United States, Latin America and the colonies.
The exhibition's scenography encourages visitors to share the destinies, emotions, battles and hopes, notably through the reconstruction of two iconic French sites within the United States: the New York studio of sculptor Ossip Zadkine, who had been living in exile since 1941, a true sanctuary of creativity and resistance; and the famous New York bookshop, Gotham Books, with its vibrant atmosphere where the French spirit flourished in the midst of war.
Curatorship:
Vincent Giraudier, Head of Department, Historial Charles de Gaulle
Sylvie Le Ray-Burimi, Chief Heritage Curator, Head of the Fine Arts and Heritage Department and with input from Carine Lachèvre, Assistant to the Head of Department, Historial Charles de Gaulle. Assisted by Louise Le Bars
