A profound reconfiguration of production spaces took place during the 19th century. The traditional paper mill, small in size and located in rural areas along rivers to take advantage of hydraulic energy, gradually gave way to vast factories integrated into a modern industrial system. This transition illustrates the shift from semi-artisanal production, centered on manual skills and adapted to local markets, to standardized mass production designed to meet the needs associated with the spread of paper.

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This spread also led to the emergence of new architectural structures linked to the paper market: bookstores. These paper-focused retail outlets further enriched the paper landscape.