What’s your favorite picture of Paris? For millions of romantics the answer would be Robert Doisneau’s famous black and white photo of “the Kiss” which outsold all other poster images during its day and came to symbolize la vie en rose for several generations... This November, the French capital stars as the main subject of the Mois de la Photo’s 20th anniversary. Whether the images are historical, sexy, fashionable or digital, Paris street scenes and interiors dominate this major event sponsored by the city of Paris and the Ministry of Culture and Communication.
Initiated as an experiment, back in 1980, by its present commissaire général Jean-Luc Monterosso and flamboyant TV movie critic Henry Chapier, this annual pix-feast originally set out to help the city’s struggling photo galleries to get more exposure. It encourages new talents while honoring celebrated photographers such as Brassaï, Edouard Boubat, Sebastiao Salgado and William Klein. Jean-Luc Monterosso stresses that “the Mois de la Photo was created to attract the public at large, and to establish a showcase for photography in the international art world.”
As it turns out, the festival has put this city on the map as the place to see an exceptionally broad spectrum of world-class photography. So, don’t miss this year’s theme — Paris celebrated via several thousand images — covered by contemporary and historical exhibitions throughout the capital. Among others...
Paris in 3D: From stereoscopy to virtual reality, 1850-2000 A novel look at the French capital viewed via 3D photography. Includes historical topics, modern discoveries and the work of contemporary artists working with new images. Until Dec 31, 10am to 5:40pm, closed Mon, Musée Carnavalet, 24 rue de Sévigné, 3e, MM° St-Paul, tel: 01 44 59 58 58, 35F/25F
“Montparnasse vu par...” Pictures by Edouard Boubat, Robert Doisneau and Brassaï, among other big shot photographers, offer glimpses of Montparnasse café life, with its painters and poets. At its height during the’20s and ’30s, when “Kiki de Montparnasse” reigned over Paris... Nov 8 to Dec 5, 1-7pm, closed Mon-Tue, 21 av de Maine, 15e, MM°Montparnasse-Bienvenue, tel: 01 42 22 05 64, 25F/20F
Ilse Bing “Les années parisiennes” Photojournalism meets the avant-garde. Pictures published in Vu and Harper’s Bazaar during the ’30s. Oct 31 to Jan 5, 10am to 8pm, Sat 9am to 12pm, closed Sun, Goethe Institute, 17 av d’Iéna, 16e, MM°Iéna, tel: 01 44 43 92 30, free
Paris, la Presse et ses photographes humanistes Robert Doisneau, Henri Cartier-Bresson and other photographers who created the humanist genre. Nov 2 -26, 2:30-7pm, closed Sun-Mon, Galerie Thierry Marlat, 2 rue de Jarente, 4e, MM° St-Paul, tel: 01 44 61 79 79
Frank Horvat “Paris, 1950” and “1999. a daily report” Pictures of Paris taken by Horvat 50 years ago are contrasted with a daily photographic journal he compiled to document life in 1999. Oct 25 to Nov 26, 11am to 6pm, closed Tue, Musée Maillol, 59 rue de Grenelle, 7e, M° rue du Bac, tel: 01 42 22 59 58, 40F/30F, -16 years free
Ilan Wolff Or, Paris seen through a pinhole. Nov 15-25, 2-7pm, Cité Internationale des Arts, 18 rue Hôtel de ville, 4e, free
Paris au Cinéma avec Alexandre Trauner combines photos, drawings and scale models by the set designer responsable for mythical reconstitutions of Paris in films such as “Hôtel du Nord” and “Irma la Douce.” Nov 8 to Jan 13, Fnac Forum des Halles, 1-7 rue Pierre Lescot, 1er, MM° Les Halles
Arnaud Baumann “Présences” A two-part look at present-day Parisian cityscapes. To Nov 19, Galerie Lambert/Lambert (8 rue des Barres, 4e) and Nov 2 to Dec 30, Espace Meyer-Zafra, 4 rue Mahler, 4e, MM°St-Paul, tel/fax: 01 42 77 05 34
Hiro/2000 A retrospective of works by the Japanese fashion photographer Hiro, celebrated for his futuristic spreads in Harper’s Bazaar. To Nov 5, 11am to 8pm, closed Mon-Tue, Maison Européenne de la Photographie, 5-7, rue de Fourcy, 4e, MM° St-Paul, tel: 01 44 78 75 00, 30F/15F
Nobuyoshi Araki’s “Voyage sentimental” contributed to his notoriety in Japan. This captivating journal unabashedly records intimate moments of the photographer’s life, such as his honeymoon with wife Yoko, and also focuses on more recent symbolic work that includes recurring images of urban Tokyo. Until Jan 27, noon to 7pm, closed Tue, Centre National de la Photographie, 11 rue Berryer, 8e, MM°Etoile, tel: 01 53 76 12 32, 20F/15F
Edward Curtis “L’Indien d’Amerique du Nord” American Indians at the end of an era — a pictorialist classic. Until Dec 31, 10am to 6:30pm, closed Mon, Patrimoine Photographique-Hôtel de Sully, 62 rue St-Antoine, 4e, MM°St-Paul, 25F/15F
Germaine Krull Modernist photography including pictures from Krull’s 1927 revolutionary book “Metal.” Nov 22 to Feb 4, from 11am, closed Tue, Centre Pompidou, Galerie 3-Niveau 6, 4e, MM°Hôtel de Ville or Rambuteau, tel: 01 44 78 12 33
Irving Penn“Une Carrière dans la Photographie” With fashion shots, nudes and celebrity portraits, this exhibition reviews the 50-year career of a leading studio photographer. To Nov 5, 11am to 8pm, closed Mon-Tue, Maison Européenne de la Photographie, 5-7 rue de Fourcy, 4e, MM° St-Paul, tel: 01 44 78 75 00, 30F/15F
Raymond Depardon, “Détours” includes a selection from “Notes,” his trip to war-ravaged Lebanon and Afghanistan; as well as recent documentary series. Nov 14 to Feb 4, 11am to 8pm, closed Mon-Tue, Maison Européenne de la Photographie, 5-7 rue de Fourcy, 4e, MM° St-Paul, tel: 01 44 78 75 00, 30F/15F
