May '68: When Paris Erupted in Protest

At The French Library Get Directions

About this Exhibition

On May 3, 1968, Parisian students took to the street in protests that spread throughout France, quickly engulfing offices, factories and other places of work. The country came to a near-standstill. This exhibition of works by the late French photographer Marc Riboud reminds us of both the passions of the moment and of the enigmatic playfulness that striking students and workers frequently displayed. Riboud, two-time winner of the Overseas Press Club Award and Sony World Photography Lifetime Achievement Award, was known for his beautifully-composed black-and-white photographs and focus on people and places.

The annotated exhibit will provide a timeline of the developments that terminated, unpredictably, with a massive electoral reaffirmation of the government of President Charles de Gaulle.

Check out our partners' events: Northeastern University | Harvard University

May '68 Revisited: The Occupy Movement that Paralyzed France

This winter and spring, the French Library / Alliance Française of Boston and Cambridge, in partnership with Northeastern University and Harvard University, presents May '68 Revisited: The Occupy Movement that Paralyzed France. This months-long series of exhibitions, discussions, debates, film screenings, readings and other activities presents the viewpoints of authors, photographers, journalists, artists, academics, politicians and others to help you discover, appreciate and understand the impact of the May '68 uprisings.

Upcoming Events

See All Upcoming Events

Arts & Exhibitions

SOLD OUT - Matisse Across the Atlantic: From Paris to American Modernism

With Art Historian Claude Cernuschi

Tuesday, May 5, 2026

From Paris to Boston, Professor Claude Cernuschi explores how Matisse’s radical vision of color and form shaped generations of American artists, from Rothko to Ellsworth Kelly.

Workshop

French Culinary Atelier with Chef Cécile Penot Dietrich

In French, for all levels

Thursday, May 7, 2026

Learn to prepare a goat cheese and spinach quiche and chocolate tartelettes in this hands-on cooking class, taught in French. Beginners welcome!

Arts & Exhibitions

SOLD OUT A French Lens on Art — Modernism Reimagined at the MFA (Part II)

An Exclusive Tour by Isabelle Slotine

Thursday, May 7, 2026

Take a private tour of the MFA in French, and discover a curated selection of modern masterpieces. This visit offers a fresh perspective on modern art; between imagination, abstraction, and bold new forms of expression.

See All