‘Art is in the street’, an exhibition following in the footsteps of the modern city.

From 18 March to 6 July 2025, the Musée d'Orsay is hosting the ‘Art is in the Street’ exhibition. Tracing the history of billposting during the mid-19ᵉ century in Paris, nearly 230 works are on display. Cultural, political, militant or even artistic posters, the exhibition takes you on a journey to the beginnings of the ‘modern city’.

"The walls of Paris are covered with posters and printed cries. The city becomes an immense book where every passer-by reads without thinking", these are the words of Jules Vallès in his book L'insurgé, published in 1886.

Posters, unique symbols of a changing society, are being given pride of place at the Musée d'Orsay from 18 March to 6 July 2025 as part of the ‘Art is in the Street’ exhibition. Co-organised with the Bibliothèque nationale de France, 227 works are on display tracing the history of Parisian billposting in the second half of the XIXᵉ century. Originally an advertising medium, billboards became a genuine means of communication in their own right, overturning social codes and ideals.

The origins of billposting

The art of billposting first appeared in 1539 with the publication of the Royal Decrees of Francis 1st. Time was short, techniques evolved and billposting became more widespread. It was in a Paris marked by the Industrial Revolution and the Haussmann works that these giant pieces of paper flourished and grew in scale. With ever-larger public spaces, the arrival of colour on paper and a desire for modernity, posters took off and became a factor in the move towards the ‘modern city’.

From their origins as advertising, posters served culture and commerce. From shows and new releases to exhibitions and cabaret, over time posters became more than just merchandise, they became a means of aesthetic communication. However, not everyone agrees with this phenomenon. Seen as a symbol of novelty, for some they are becoming a veritable visual pollution.

These posters, ephemeral as they were, have been brought together at the Musée d'Orsay to shed light on the beginnings of communication through images. Rarely brought together, this collection represents the roots of a Paris on the move.

A poster in the service of politics

What if posters were also a political issue? Under the law of 29 July 1881, freedom of expression has been reaffirmed, giving a new twist to the use of posters. Long seen as a means of advertising and cultural promotion, billboards are now taking on a political role. The public space, which had long been under state control, became a place for discussion and debate, where posters became visual weapons.

Serving all parties and ideals, this new mode of political communication is gradually sweeping away the art of cultural posters. The open-air museum that was Paris disappeared to make way for convictions. Initially in the service of politically committed novels such as those by Émile Zola, over time they came to serve causes in their raw, unfiltered state, full of opinions.

The poster today

But what about today? Although posters had their heyday in the second half of the 19ᵉ century, they have not disappeared for all that. From films and concerts to novelties and exhibitions, posters have retained a central place in today's society. Mixing culture and politics, they are now both an infinite playground for artists, but also a visual weapon to defend these ideals.

From 18 March to 6 July 2025, the Musée d'Orsay invites you to discover and contemplate these posters from the past. In a setting steeped in history, these posters come back to life, bursting with colour and memories.

To find out more about the art of postering, watch our documentary about the "L'art est dans la rue exhibition" at the Musée d'Orsay on our online platform.