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This free photo exhibition takes us into 1970s Paris!

undefined undefined 9 juillet 2025 undefined 13h00

undefined undefined 9 juillet 2025 undefined 15h19

The Editor

François-Xavier Bouchart Commerce de vins, café et liqueurs, passage Julien-Lacroix. Paris (20e. arr.), vers 1970. © Atelier Roger-Viollet

All summer long, the Marguerite Duras library in the 20th arrondissement invites you on a true journey through time. Under the watchful eyes of two visionary young photographers, François-Xavier Bouchart and Léon Claude Vénézia, the vibrant Paris of the years 1965 to 1975 is unveiled in all its glory.

From 1967 to 1977, François-Xavier Bouchart and Léon Claude Vénézia, two hopeful young photographers, strolled through the streets of the city’s popular neighborhoods, especially the villages of Belleville and Ménilmontant, to cast a fresh eye on their era. This resulted in a captivating visual journey to document a changing Paris, capturing the essence of what would soon disappear.


The Color Revolution

At a time when black and white still reigns supreme, as seen in the works of Doisneau and Depardon, the two young photographers celebrated by the Marguerite Duras media library took a significant leap in the 1960s by embracing color. Yet, their originality stands out.

this approach is not just about this bold choice, but also about their fascination with the everyday scenes of Parisian life.

Here, children are playing freely in the streets, the cafés visited by French workers and immigrants are alive, the inner courtyards of buildings and the little gardens of colorful workers' houses... So much vibrancy to enjoy!

Visual testimonies from this bygone era, highlighting the buzz of local life, the urban fabric in full metamorphosis, of which very little remains today.


A journey through time

So, this true journey through the ages is what this free exhibition offers visitors, designed in partnership with the Galerie Roger-Viollet, transporting them to an authentic Paris, far from the dazzling lights of the Eiffel Tower. Through the snapshots, the spirit of two of the most popular – in every sense of the word – areas of the capital is revealed, even today.

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Léon Claude Vénézia, Children crossing the Rue des Couronnes. View from a café. Paris (20th), September 1969 © Atelier Roger-Viollet

The images of Bouchart and Vénézia resonate with a unique emotional authenticity, capturing the everyday life of the cosmopolitan population in these vibrant neighborhoods. In a time when change was inevitable, these images provide a privileged look at a capital in full transition. It’s an immersive visual experience that offers a captivating glimpse into yesterday's Paris, frozen in photographs filled with nostalgia and realism.


The popular Paris of the 70s, a cross-section view by François-Xavier Bouchard and Léon Claude Vénézia.

cute; on Claude Vénézia
Marguerite Duras Media Library
115, rue de Bagnolet – 20th
Until September 28, 2025
Free entry
More info