LE bon marche, The Ladies Delight

Follow me to discover Le Bon Marché the first department store in the sense that we hear it today.

Above all, Le Bon Marché is the first store to have been the reflection of his time in the fields of architecture, philanthropy, and advertising.

By the chosen themes and graphic designs, it reflects the evolution of the taste, habits, arts and style of its era.

The history of Le Bon Marché, is first and foremost the story of a man, Aristide Boucicaut, who has revolutionized retail trade and taken it into the era of mass consumption.

Aristide Boucicaut has created the concept of the department store, a store in which women can find everything, and not only articles of textile.

In this purpose, he needed a revolutionary architecture. Thanks to the steel structures of Gustave Eiffel, Le Bon Marché is an elegant palace of glass designed by Louis Boileau.

Combined with the fantastic commercial judgement of Aristide Boucicaut, the success of Le Bon Marché has been immediate.

A success that Emile Zola (1840-1902) the leading figure in the French school of naturalistic fiction will immortalize in Au Bonheur des Dames – The Ladies Delight.

His principal work, Les Rougon-Macquart, is a panorama of mid-19th century French life.

The ladies delight is the 11th book in a cycle of 20, and described as a "poem on the modern activity", an ode to a century of action and conquest.

The Ladies Delight, is a walk in a revisited past, in the French way of life and in the heart of the timeless elegance of the most fascinating Parisian department store.

(photo Le Bon Marché)

In addition to being the most chic, the Bon Marché Rive Gauche is the most committed, most innovative and daring Parisian store in contemporary art.

Where are we going, Chiharu Shiota - January 2017 (photo ©Behind the Seine)

Since three years Le Bon Marché increasingly emerges as a leader in ephemeral contemporary art events in the Parisian cultural landscape.

Er xi, childs playground, Ai Weiwei - February 2016

Acting as a real cultural sponsor, Le Bon Marché aims to be an exhibition venue and a place of discovery where talents and curiosity for arts meet to create a unique aesthetic experience.

Under the sky - exhibition of Leandro Erlich until Feb, 18. 2018. (photo ©Behind the Seine)

Under the glass canopy of a cloudy blue sky with identifiable figures, Andrée Putman's iconic escalators designed in 1990 are rolled for a beautiful optical illusion signed by Leandro Erlich, an Argentine visual artist invited in the beginning of this new year.

The escalators seem to be intertwined to evoque a carnival ride, reality seems to be twisted too. Amazing ! Under the sky - exhibition of Leandro Erlich until Feb, 18.2018.

(photo ©Behind the Seine)

I highly recommend to visit this unique department store, and if your budget is sizeable to get the very best shopping experience in fashion and arts in a timeless path.

(photo ©Behind the Seine)

(photo ©Behind the Seine)

Le Bon Marché Rive Gauche

24 rue de Sèvres 75007 Paris - métro Sèvres Babylone

all pictures are courtesy of Le Bon Marché Rive Gauche excepted when marked ©Behind the Seine)