Exposition Mer en vue !

The Sea in Sight!
October 31, 2026–May 23, 2027
Through the fascination it inspires, the sea has given rise to a wealth of imagery. Long difficult to observe, it is known, described, and understood through engravings, prints, and illustrations that give form to the ocean, its inhabitants, its promises, and its dangers. Far from being mere reflections of reality, these images convey the knowledge, beliefs, and dreams of an era.
With the development of navigation, the sea gradually opened up to explorers and scholars. Iconography accompanied this movement: it bore witness to discoveries, made the marine world more familiar, and helped spread knowledge. But it also leaves ample room for the imagination, populating the depths with extraordinary creatures and carrying legends from one continent to another.
The sea is also a realm of adventure and danger. From tales of pirates and shipwrecks that leave a lasting impression on the collective memory, these images depict both heroic feats and tragic events.
Straddling the line between observation of reality and a taste for the marvelous, popular imagery reveals the diversity of perspectives on the oceans and the stories that societies have projected onto them.