Prehistory: Between Utopia and Reality

Since the 19th century, a new fascination for our most distant origins has gripped Europe, transforming simple bones into epic narratives. The College of France sheds light on this singular dialogue where scientific rigor meets the unrestrained imagination of artists. Together, they shaped a vision of primitive humanity that oscillates between tangible evidence and romantic fantasies. This presentation gathers precious archives and artworks illustrating how our conception of early humans is both an archaeological discovery and a cultural construction. Visible from April 29 to July 19, 2026, this intellectual journey questions our need for mythology and the way we invent our own past through the prism of art and knowledge.