On International Women’s Day, Scala pays tribute to a significant figure of European culture. 2026 marks the 150th anniversary of the death of George Sand (1804-1876), a writer, thinker, and pioneer who embodied women’s emancipation in the 19th century. The Centre des Monuments Nationaux, of which Scala is the official worldwide agent, actively participates in the celebrationt hrough special events at the Maison de George Sand in Nohant, the fascinating place where the author lived and created many of her most important works.
George Sand was not only one of the most prolific writers of her time—author of over 70 novels, and thousands of letters—but she represents the model of a woman who courageously and with unwavering determination challenged the social conventions of her era.
A pioneer of equality: in an era when women were relegated to domestic roles, George Sand claimed the right to intellectual and economic independence, by adopting a male pseudonym not to hide but to assert herself in a literary world dominated by men.
An activist before her time: she fought for women’s education, social justice, and workers’ rights, anticipating many achievements that would come only decades later.
A protector of heritage: a lover of nature and art, she made her home in Nohant an extraordinary cultural center, welcoming artists, musicians, and intellectuals from all of Europe, including Frédéric Chopin, Franz Liszt and Eugène Delacroix.
150 years after her death, George Sand continues to inspire us. Her fight for women’s independence, her commitment to culture, and her progressive vision of society are remarkably relevant. On the 8th of March 2026, celebrating George Sand means remembering that the struggles for equality and women’s rights have deep and noble roots, and that achievements are born of the courage of women who, like her, dare to challenge their time.
In the heart of Berry, the Maison de George Sand in Nohant represents much more than just a historic residence: it was the creative refuge where the author composed most of her work, the cultural salon that welcomed the greatest artists of the Romantic era, and the garden where she cultivated her passion for nature.
Preserved and open to the public by the Centre des monuments nationaux, this house testifies the audacity and influence of a woman who made Nohant a true cultural center. The rooms she lived in, the study where she wrote, the puppet theater created for her son Maurice: every space tells the story of the modernity of a woman who knew how to build a space of intellectual freedom in an era that denied such possibility to women.
In 2026, the Maison de Nohant celebrates this anniversary with a rich program of special visits, exhibitions, and musical events that allow us to rediscover the extraordinary legacy of George Sand.
As the official agent of the Centre des Monuments Nationaux, Scala represents an extraordinary iconographic heritage: historic photographs of the Maison de Nohant, portraits of the author, images of the spaces where she lived and wrote, documents that document her life and her era. This material is available for publishers, audiovisual productions, and cultural projects that wish to highlight the figure of this exceptional woman. Contact us for more information and licensing.
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In the cover: Charles Frederic Lauth (1865-1922), George Sand in Nohant, Musee de la Vie Romantique, Paris- Q005500
