Salons came into existence in the time of the French Revolution and were the counter model of the bourgeoisie to the court. Freedom and equality in all aspects are therefore immovable principles in the salon. Great spiritual themes of the Enlightenment were discussed, the Salon has and always had a political position. In the salons in particular the woman, the Saloniere, had her political mandate: Salons were arguably the only stage for women to play a role in actively and creatively participating in the political, intellectual and artistic life. Salons were for women the replacement for an university, the framework to actively participate in the society and communicate openly. The private framework allowed for free exchange of opinions and encounter of different classes.

Salons were for many famous artists, scientists and politicians their extended living room where one met. Interestingly, these private gatherings of wealthy, educated hosts, often nobles, were never referred to as salons, but tea-table, soirée, or bureau-d’Esprit. Peter Seibert has established the following formal criteria: mixed gender, centered on a salon lady, periodicly meeting in a private household extended to semi-public, conversation being as the most important factor in action, permeability in the participant structures, tendential renunciation of action goals beyond sociability. An important aspect of the salon to be added here is its internationality.