The early 20^th century marked the introduction of African and Oceanic arts to Paris. These objects, initially perceived as ethnographic, have gradually been recognised 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, recognising 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.