The Musée d'Art et d'Histoire Paul-Éluard in Saint-Denis presents "Croire et guérir – Et délivrez-nous du mal," an exhibition exploring the intersection of healing, knowledge, and belief from the Middle Ages to the present. Drawing on 285 pharmaceutical objects from the former Hôtel-Dieu of Saint-Denis, the show features apothecary ceramics, alchemical texts, anatomical waxes, and contemporary artworks by Christian Fogarolli and Sophie Zénon, tracing how scientific revolutions have continually spawned new forms of magical thinking.
This exhibition matters because it challenges the modern divide between faith and medicine, revealing how deeply ingrained supernatural beliefs persist even in an age of scientific progress. By juxtaposing historical remedies—like dragon's blood and bezoar water—with contemporary art, the museum prompts visitors to reflect on the enduring human need for ritual and miracle in the pursuit of healing, a theme that resonates in today's wellness culture and debates over alternative medicine.