L'étrange cas de Monsieur Gallé

Exhibition at the Musée des Beaux-Arts in Nancy, 21 October 2026 – 27 February 2027

A ceramist, cabinetmaker and glassmaker, Émile Gallé (1846–1904) was also a knowledgeable botanist, writer, art industrialist, socially committed figure and president of the École de Nancy association, or the Alliance Provinciale des Industries d’Art. Drawing on nature’s inexhaustible resources, the artist developed an approach that was less about imitation and more about revelation and interpretation. This approach resulted in creations that blend beauty, mystery, surprise and, at times, even a certain ugliness.

This exhibition catalogue sets out to explore Gallé’s relationship with materials and the living world, and to showcase the diversity of his repertoire. It presents works from the years 1880–1904, illustrating the artist’s desire to ‘convey the life and soul latent beneath the outer shell’. Glassware, cabinetry and ceramics, as well as leatherwork, drawings, notes, photographs and prints, provide an insight into all aspects of his work. The publication also explores how Gallé, convinced of the great expressive and evocative power of his works, used his art to express and defend his ideas, particularly through his political commitments.