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

► From 1 September to 31 December 2026, Préau will be open by reservation only for school groups and other groups (by phone at 04 13 94 83 85 or by email at resa-preaudesaccoules@marseile.fr).

No self-guided visits; only time slots for workshop visits. Tuesday to Saturday at 10am and 2pm.

EXHIBITION INTRODUCTION

Seeing childhood differently

“L’art de grandir” offers 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 the heritage, ethnographic and art collections, the exhibition explores how artists and the societies they reflect have seen, understood and represented children.

An exhibition designed for children

Created and produced by the Musée des enfants – Préau des Accoules, this exhibition is primarily intended for young audiences. Each exhibition space has been designed to encourage curiosity, observation and personal expression. Through playful displays, guided visits and art workshops, children become active participants in their discoveries: understanding images, experiencing emotions and trying their hand at creating.

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 given era:
• Antiquity: realistic representations, studies of the body and portraiture.
• Middle Ages: sacred imagery 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 era: the child becomes a mirror of our society and emotions.
• Over the centuries, artists have represented children as heirs, symbols, workers, dreamers and witnesses to their times.

EXHIBITION ROUTE

1. Birth and growing up: children in myths and religions

The exhibition begins 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 holds a central place: a symbol of incarnation and hope, he inspired countless works imbued with tenderness and faith.

1. Childhood and rituals around the world

As visitors explore ethnographic objects and accounts, they discover how childhood is experienced elsewhere. Among the Wayana people of French Guiana, the Maraké ritual marks the passage into adulthood: an initiation trial combining courage and the passing on of knowledge. Among the Dan Yacouba people of Côte d’Ivoire, entry into Poro society is accompanied by dances and sacred masks: a formative moment of learning and social cohesion. These traditions illustrate the richness of different worldviews and the essential place of children in the continuity of human societies.

1. The child in Western society

The exhibition then explores representations of children in European art: In portraits of the nobility, children symbolize continuity, lineage and family values. Clothing, jewelry and accessories reflect each family’s status 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. Images of children from modest backgrounds and children at work bear witness to the social realities of the time: the Industrial Revolution, the labor of miners and factory workers, as well as the beginnings of compulsory schooling and the emergence of children’s rights.

1. Contemporary perspectives

The exhibition concludes with photographic and contemporary works, including those of Julia Pirotte, a photographer who took refuge in Marseille during the Second World War. Her photographs of children in the Old Port and 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 keeping with the artistic journey, one museum space 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 remind us how views of childhood have evolved: from protection to recognition of the child as a rights-holder and a person with a voice.

AROUND THE EXHIBITION

Throughout the season, “L’art de grandir” 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 learning facilitators, • Partnerships with other municipal cultural institutions and early childhood organizations.

Musée des enfants – Préau des Accoules 29 montée des Accoules – 13002 Marseille Tel.: 04 13 94 83 85 Email: resa-preaudesaccoules@marseille.fr

Opening hours From 1 September to 31 December, Préau will be open by reservation only (by phone at 04 13 94 83 85 or by email at resa-preaudesaccoules@marseil