“The World After. Singing tomorrows? 1944-1954” at the Museum of Aquitaine

expo / exposition / bordeaux / musée

6 May - 16 November

Discover the Museum of Aquitaine's new exhibition “The World After. Singing tomorrows? 1944-1954” until November 16, 2025.

A historical exhibition not to be missed

“The World After. Singing tomorrows? 1944-1954” plunges us into a little-known but crucial period of our history: the decade that followed the end of the world conflict, where the traces of the post-war era mingle with a changing world.
Through emblematic objects and furniture from the period, posters, archive documents and never-before-seen images, this exhibition sheds light on the reality of the French people, their reconstruction, their hopes and their doubts. From the Liberation dress to the Formica kitchen (very vintage today!) to the American Juke box from 1954, objects testify to this history: a 1946 Social Security office, a 2CV, Mayor Jacques Chaban-Delmas' office, a children's bedroom and even a Marshall Plan tractor! A polling booth, embodying the achievement of women's right to vote, is at the heart of a tour that presents the technical advances of the period, the social gains inherited from the Resistance program, the great battles of justice and, above all, everyday life. While we are fortunate enough to still be able to hear the voices of witnesses, their memory is slowly fading. A central place is given to French song, which illustrates both concerns and hopes.

A first in France

The Musée d'Aquitaine is the first history museum in France to devote an exhibition to this pivotal decade between the Second World War and the “Trente Glorieuses”. At a time when current geopolitical upheavals are tipping the balance of power in place since 1945, this exhibition resonates with our own times. It encourages us to reflect on the foundations of our society and the legacy of the Resistance.
A not-to-be-missed exhibition that invites us to understand, remember and reflect on our present.

Exhibition details

• Opening hours: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday to Sunday
• Location: Musée d'Aquitaine, Bordeaux
• Closed Mondays and public holidays
• Open July 14 and August 15