Les Grands Magasins, cathédrales de la consommation

Department stores, cathedrals of consumerism.
Géraldine GUERIN

Galeries Lafayette, La Samaritaine, Printemps Haussmann and Le Bon Marché are all cult addresses. From the 1850s onwards, department stores, veritable cathedrals of consumerism, replaced specialized boutiques and small shops, and flourished in major European and American cities, making their founders millionaires. Their monumental architecture and staging of merchandise revolutionized consumer habits, transforming shopping into a sensory and entertaining experience. Here's a look back at the history of these mythical places, from the context of their creation to their evolution to the present day.

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