L'art de grandir, visages d'enfants dans les collections des Musées de Marseille

For this new exhibition, Préau des Accoules – Children’s Museum presents a tour combining objects and works of art from antiquity to the present day, drawn from the collections of all the Museums of Marseille. EXHIBITION PRESENTATION Looking at childhood differently “The Art of Growing Up” takes visitors on a journey through representations of childhood in the collections of Marseille’s museums, from antiquity to the present day. Through a selection of works from heritage, ethnographic and artistic collections, the exhibition explores how artists and the societies they reflect have viewed, understood and represented children. An exhibition designed for children Designed and produced by the Children’s Museum – Préau des Accoules, this exhibition is primarily aimed at young audiences. Each space has been designed to encourage curiosity, observation and personal expression. Through playful activities, guided visits and art workshops, children become active participants in their discovery: understanding images, experiencing emotions and experimenting with creation. A universal theme: childhood in art - The child in art history - The representation of children has always reflected the social, spiritual and cultural ideas of a period: - Antiquity: realistic representation, study of the body and portraiture. - Middle Ages: sacred image, centered on the Christ Child. - 17th century: idealization and hope; the child becomes a subject in their own right. - 19th century: the emergence of realism, freedom and spontaneity. - Contemporary period: the child becomes a mirror of our society and emotions. - Throughout the centuries, artists have represented children as heirs, symbols, workers, dreamers and witnesses of their time. EXHIBITION TOUR 1. Being born and growing up: children in myths and religions The exhibition opens with symbolic representations of childhood in the great civilizations. In Greco-Roman mythology, child gods (Eros, Dionysus, Hermes and Heracles) embody love, vitality, cunning and courage. In ancient Egypt, Harpocrates, son of Isis and Osiris, represents youth and rebirth. In Christianity, the Christ Child occupies a central place: a symbol of incarnation and hope, he inspired countless works imbued with tenderness and faith. 2. Childhood and rituals around the world As visitors explore ethnographic objects and accounts, they discover how childhood is experienced elsewhere. Among the Wayana of French Guiana, the Maraké ritual marks the transition to adulthood: an initiation ordeal combining courage and the passing on of knowledge. Among the Dan Yacouba of Côte d’Ivoire, entry into Poro society is accompanied by dances and sacred masks: a formative moment of learning and cohesion. These traditions illustrate the richness of different worldviews and the essential place of children in the continuity of human societies. 3. The child in Western society The exhibition then explores representations of children in European art: In portraits of the nobility, the child symbolizes continuity, lineage and family values. Clothing, jewelry and accessories reflect each family’s rank and dignity. In 19th-century genre scenes, children become the heroes of everyday life: they play, read, dream and learn. Artists capture their spontaneity and freedom in a more realistic and sensitive approach. Working-class children and child laborers bear witness to the social realities of the period: the Industrial Revolution, the work of miners and laborers, as well as the beginnings of compulsory schooling and the emergence of children’s rights. 4. Contemporary perspectives The exhibition concludes with photographic and contemporary works, including those by Julia Pirotte, a photographer who took refuge in Marseille during the Second World War. Her photographs of children in the Old Port and at Bompard camp bear witness to resilience, solidarity and humanity in the darkest moments. Through these artists’ perspectives, childhood remains a mirror of our world: free, fragile and essential. THE CHILD AND THEIR RIGHTS In parallel with the artistic tour, a section of the museum traces the history of children’s rights through major international milestones: 1924 – Declaration of Geneva (League of Nations) 1959 – Declaration of the Rights of the Child (UN) 1989 – Convention on the Rights of the Child 2002 – United Nations Special Session “A World Fit for Children” These texts show how perceptions of childhood have evolved: from protection to recognition of the child as a subject with rights and a voice. AROUND THE EXHIBITION Throughout the season, “The Art of Growing Up” will be accompanied by special events: • Shows and performances related to childhood and creativity, • Meetings and talks about representations of children, • Workshops for families and school groups, led by the museum’s education staff, • Partnerships with other municipal cultural institutions and early-childhood organizations. Children’s Museum – Préau des Accoules 29 montée des Accoules – 13002 Marseille Tel.: 04 13 94 83 85 Email: resa-preaudesaccoules@marseille.fr Opening hours From September 1 to December 31, Préau will be open by reservation only (by telephone at 04 13 94 83 85 or by email at resa-preaudesaccoules@marseile.fr). No independent visits, only time slots for guided workshop visits. Tuesday to Saturday at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Closed: Sunday, Monday and public holidays (January 1, May 1, November 1 and 11, December 25) Free admission ► To be sure of being able to take the full tour of everything