Photo : © Agence-Rol
Presentation of the book "Vivre les enchères"
Behind every auction lies a high-stakes performance where obsession meets cold economics. Come pull back the curtain on this secret world as we explore the fascinating human rituals that turn simple objects into objects of desire.
Fondation Maison des Sciences de l'Homme (FMSH) (Paris 6th)
About
The Fondation Maison des Sciences de l'Homme hosts a special presentation of the book Vivre les enchères on November 12, 2026. This event, part of the Livres en dialogue series, explores the fascinating world of auctions, where desires and identities are negotiated. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage with author Pia Torregrossa and journalist Jean-Marie Durand during this insightful evening. The event is free of charge and open to visitors aged 18 and over. The venue is fully accessible to wheelchair users, ensuring a welcoming environment for all participants.
The Fondation Maison des Sciences de l'Homme is organizing an evening to present the book Vivre les enchères, raison et passion pour l'art et les objets de collection, published in April 2026 in the "Ethnologie de la France et des mondes contemporains" collection by Éditions de la MSH, in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture.
This session of "Livres en dialogue" will feature Pia Torregrossa, the book's author, in conversation with Jean-Marie Durand, a journalist at Les Inrockuptibles.
At the end of this meeting, you will have the opportunity to ask our guests any questions you may have.
About the book
What happens during an auction? How can an item be sold for up to eighteen times its estimated price while others find no takers? Oscillating between pleasure and disappointment, desire and reason, participants in "Art and Collectibles" sales occupy a stage that is as exciting as it is demanding, where singular exchanges take place. But how are roles distributed, what are the steps, and what is the schedule to follow? What are the trajectories of the participants—buyers, sellers, and professionals—whose roles are interchangeable?
; Credits: © Éditions de la MSHAbout the speakers
A doctor of ethnology, Pia Torregrossa is an associate researcher at the Centre d'anthropologie culturelle (Canthel) at Université Paris Cité. At the intersection of economic anthropology, heritage, art, and memory, her research focuses on practices of evaluation, circulation, and consumption of goods.
Jean-Marie Durand is a journalist and author, a graduate of the Institut d'études politiques de Paris (class of 1990) and holder of a DEA in political studies (1992). Head of the "Arts-Scènes" and "Idées" sections at Les Inrockuptibles since 1997, he has collaborated with various media outlets (Philosophie Magazine, France Culture, Zadig, Trois couleurs, Ravages, The Art NewsPaper, La Revue du Crieur, Légende, C Ce Soir…). He facilitates conversations with social science researchers on the Cairn platform. Between 2019 and 2022, he also hosted a monthly series of lectures on the life of ideas at the Fondation Pernod Ricard ("S'inspirer, respirer") and debates at the Mk2 Institut. Jean-Marie Durand has also published several essays: Homo Intellectus, enquête hexagonale sur une espèce en voie de réinvention (La Découverte, 2019); 1977, année électrique (Robert Laffont, 2017); Le cool dans nos veines, histoire d’une sensibilité (Robert Laffont, 2015).
Our take on this event
On November 12, 2026, from 19:00 to 21:00, the Fondation Maison des Sciences de l'Homme (FMSH) invites you to discover the book Vivre les enchères, raison et passion pour l'art et les objets de collection, released in April 2026. Hosted at 54, boulevard Raspail in Paris, this session is part of the Livres en dialogue series produced in collaboration with the French Ministry of Culture.
The event features a conversation between the book's author, ethnologist Pia Torregrossa, and journalist Jean-Marie Durand from Les Inrockuptibles. Together, they will deconstruct the auction scene, examining how objects are valued and how buyers and sellers navigate the tension between reason and emotion. The discussion will cover the specific roles within the auction process and the research behind the book.
This presentation is intended for an audience aged 18 and above. A Q&A session will follow the main discussion, giving attendees the chance to interact directly with the guests. The event is free to attend, and the facilities are wheelchair accessible.
