Le 11 juillet 1938, le jour où Howard Hughes (1905-1976) bat le record de traversée de l’Atlantique, Jean Zay (1904-1944) préside la cérémonie de réouverture du Palais de la découverte. Qu’il survive à l’Exposition Universelle de 1937 avait été le vœu dès le début non seulement de ses fondateurs, mais aussi de nombreux responsables de l’événement. Pensé, supervisé et incarné par Jean Perrin (1870-1942), le Palais doit aussi beaucoup à son coordinateur, et premier directeur, André Léveillé (1880-1962).

Eighty-five years ago today, on 25 May 1937, countries from around the world gathered in Paris for the opening of a six-month World Expo dedicated to arts and technology in modern life. Taking place in a unique context of geopolitical tensions and social change, the works of art commissioned for Expo 1937 Paris stood out not only for their scale, aesthetics, and creative significance, but also for their political and social meaning. Here are five iconic masterpieces, all created for Expo 1937 Paris:

Following its first appearance to the world at World Expo 1937 Paris, Pablo Picasso’s legendary “Guernica” has continued to captivate hearts and minds as one of the most powerful anti-war statement in the world.

Guernica’s first public appearance dates from 12 July 1937, when the Republican Spanish pavilion was inaugurated at the “International Exhibition of Arts and Technology in Modern Life” in Paris.