At Alcide, a book is published devoted to the history of commerce in Nîmes, making the link between the great history and the personalities.
It was a bit by chance, during a meal at Yann Cruvelier’s publisher, that a conversation began about Nîmes businesses, “those who closed especially”remembers historian Danièle Jean. “They were places of memory for Nîmesshe continues. And he suggested we write something about these old businesses.”
An illustrated sum
Thus was born this formidable sum, “Nîmes, the great adventure of commerce”signed by Francine Cabane and Danièle Jean, illustrated by watercolorist Camille Penchinat, published by Alcide, making the link between the great history, the stages of development of the city and the families, the shops, the human beings who participated in these exchanges until today.
“It was a bit of a difficult bet, continues Francine Cabane. How to move from individual history to the history of commerce in Nîmes. We wanted a book of emotion, in the encounter and at the same time it had to be integrated over the long term, in a broad focus because Nîmes was integrated into the major international commercial circuits since the Middle Ages.”
“Tasty encounters”
Throughout the book, they maintain this subtle balance, made even more sensitive by the colors of Camille Penchinat. “From the text proposals, I went into the field, I like to draw on the motif, I have memories of tasty encounters, of fragrant, colorful places”explains the artist, who transmits this story in a sensory way. “The fact that I have a look that is not that of a photographer, the fact of spending time touched people”continues the painter, who makes the link, with her pencils and brushes, between the pleasure of the human encounter and the erudition of the subject.
A book illustrated by watercolorist Camille Penchinat.
Historians show the importance of geography placing the city on major routes, from the Via Domitia in Roman times to the railway star at the end of the 19th century. “The situation is exceptional and sums up a lot of things”, specifies Francine Cabane. The city is also linked to its territory, local agricultural production, silk, wool… “The railway will support the wine trade in particular”explains Danièle Jean.
A business linked to the land
“It seemed obvious to enter this history through textiles. But long before, Nîmes first sold the products of its territory, olives, oil, wine, even at the time of the Gauls. There first had a local trade in local products. The territory gave birth to activities. For a very long time, we only sold what we made on site”explain the historians.
This is embodied in daring personalities, dynasties who built the city, also exporting inventions across the world. It was Samuel Guérin from Nîmes who was the first to attach a small metal tip to the laces or André Gillier who created the first kangaroo briefs for Eminence in 1927 under the Jil brand. And of course the indigo canvas, which is not only from Nîmes.
Antiques and the book
Among the specificities of the city is also the antiques trade. Long before attracting tourists, archaeological finds attracted collectors. “Today, it is no longer a commercial affair. But for a long time, the city sold its heritage and lost coins by the thousands, statues, capitals”, continue the authors. The Reformation and the link with Lyon, another textile capital and important publishing center, also favored the book trade, the place of printers.
The opus crosses these stories by bringing to life the large wine or livestock markets which animated the city, the Jean-Jaurès factories, the creation of Juvenel and the department stores, the Saint-Michel fair, the funfair of Jean-Jaurès or the disappeared stores like the Vasserot hardware store and the Pichon florists. With the details full of life, the light and elegant watercolor touches of Camille Penchinat, the book also presents those who today maintain quality and human exchanges.
There are essentials, the colors from Ménard, the Nadal coffee, the Villaret crunchies, the carpets from Testard, the olives from Daniel, the bookstores and those who renew this heritage, Les Ateliers de Nîmes by Guillaume Sagot, the creations textiles from Vestiaire de Jeanne, Arthur Pons who works with leather or Christophe Mouton and his brandade. Because the book is not nostalgic, on the contrary celebrating new initiatives, like these aperitifs that have become essential around the market halls.
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