Inauguration of the exhibition "Le marché de l'art sous l'Occupation" at Lieu de Mémoire in Chambon-sur-Lignon, France

Le Lieu de Mémoire in Chambon-sur-Lignon inaugurated, on July 2nd, its new temporary exhibition: "The art market under the Occupation" in the presence of Mrs. Caroline Di Vicenzo, regional councilor of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region, and Mrs. Corinne Bringer, Deputy Councillor for Culture and Heritage of the Department of Haute-Loire, Mrs. Esther Wieland, pastor, Jean-Noël Souvignet, mayor of Chambon-sur-Lignon, Mr. Yvan Cordier, Prefect of Haute-Loire and Mr. Jacques Fredj, director of the Shoah Memorial.

Through a journey combining works of art, unpublished archives and provenance research, this exhibition highlights a long-overlooked aspect of the Second World War: the mechanisms of spoliation of cultural property belonging mainly to persecuted Jewish families, as well as the contemporary issues related to their restitution. Designed under the scientific curatorship of Emmanuelle Polack, the exhibition offers visitors to follow real historical investigations, illustrating the meticulous research work to trace the works and repair, when possible, past injustices. Presented until November 28, 2026, this exhibition is fully in line with the mission of the Lieu de Mémoire: to transmit history and bring memory to life.

learn more about the exhibition