Photo : Périodique Tri tân, Hanoi, Tri tân, 1941-1946. Collections de la BULAC, BIULO PER.2828.
Printing, Publishing, Illustrating: Typographic and Graphic Modernity in Vietnam (1860-1945)
Step into a world where traditional craftsmanship meets the rapid pulse of early 20th-century print technology in Vietnam. This exhibition masterfully charts the evolution of typography and design, offering a unique glimpse into a rapidly modernizing society through its books and journals. A visual treasure trove for anyone who appreciates the intersection of history, art, and graphic culture.
BULAC (Paris 13th)
About
Discover the graphic evolution of Vietnam from 1860 to 1945 through this exclusive exhibition at the BULAC. This historical journey traces the shift from traditional woodblock printing to the rise of major publishing houses, illustrating how technical advancements reshaped literature, commerce, and daily life. Designed for adult audiences aged 18 and over, this event offers a deep dive into an era of profound industrial transformation. Admission is completely free, and the venue is fully accessible to wheelchair users. Join this exploration of cultural history and see how local innovation redefined the Vietnamese visual landscape over several decades.
The exhibition offers a stroll through these decades filled with history, transformations, and innovations. It begins with an overview of late 19th-century printing techniques, honoring artisanal know-how and materials such as xylographic plates. It continues with the first years of transformation, which began in Saigon with the arrival of the Imperial Printing House (1864-1904), before spreading across the entire Vietnamese territory. It then highlights the most prolific years of this metamorphosis (1920-1940), which saw the birth of major Vietnamese printing and publishing houses, by presenting both the elements that distinguish them and those that align them with European presses of the same period.
The route also exposes the prominent themes of this modernity, which cross several areas of cultural and daily life. It is first literature that welcomes these changes, from the beginning of the rise of lithography. Technological transfer and the availability of resources now produced in large quantities - such as paper made from local wood - also favor industrial and commercial development. Printing then produces considerable impacts on commercial practices, various forms of leisure, and graphic arts.
Round table on Thursday, October 8 at 6:30 PM
Our take on this event
Located in the 13th arrondissement, the BULAC hosts an exhibition dedicated to the transformation of typographic and graphic modernity in Vietnam. Spanning from 1860 to 1945, the collection highlights the transition from artisanal methods like xylography to the technological boom initiated by the Imperial Printing House. Visitors will explore the prolific 1920-1940 period, witnessing how Vietnamese publishing houses evolved through their interaction with European printing techniques of the time.
The exhibition also examines how lithography and the availability of local paper resources influenced culture, trade, and leisure. Beyond the display, a roundtable discussion is scheduled for Thursday, October 8 at 18:30. The exhibition runs until October 31, 2026, and is free of charge for all visitors aged 18 and up. The facility is fully accessible to wheelchair users, ensuring a comfortable experience for everyone interested in this significant chapter of Vietnamese history.
