Sarah Bernhardt's Extraordinary Life and Collection on Display in Évian

The Palais Lumière in Évian-les-Bains is hosting an exhibition titled 'Sarah Bernhardt. Le Mythe Vivant. Passion d’un collectionneur' from July 4, 2026 to January 3, 2027. The show presents an exceptional collection assembled by Pierre-André Hélène, a collector, art historian, and former curator of the Musée Art nouveau Maxim's, who has been fascinated by the actress for twenty years. The exhibition is organized in six 'acts' and traces Bernhardt's life from her early dreams of entering a convent to her rise as a global celebrity. Highlights include period costumes reconstructed by embroiderer Ollivier Henry, jewelry by René Lalique, and posters by Alphonse Mucha, whose career she launched. The display also covers her talents as a painter and sculptor, her writing, and her entrepreneurial spirit in managing her tours. The exhibition features numerous photographs, including portraits by Nadar and Paul Nadar, and objects from her Parisian interior. The collection reflects Bernhardt's influence on Art Nouveau and her status as a precursor to modern celebrity culture, with her image used in advertising, cinema, and street art. The exhibition also includes a section on her personal eccentricities, such as her pet boa and alligators, and her legendary performances, including playing male roles and enduring an amputation without anesthesia. The show ends with homages to her, from stamps to Andy Warhol's works.