Portraits : histoires photographiques à Marseille
About this event
To mark the Bicentenary of Photography, the Marseille Municipal Archives invite visitors to discover the richness and diversity of their photographic collections through the singular lens of the portrait. This heritage will be highlighted in an exhibition running from November 21, 2026 to April 30, 2027. It presents a selection of portraits made from the mid-19th century to the end of the 20th century, exploring both the technical evolution of the photographic medium and the process of democratization that accompanied its development. The exhibition explores 150 years of practices, from the transfer of the painted portrait to photography, once reserved for an elite, to the selfie practiced by everyone. From the first experiments by amateur studio photographers to street photographers who also filmed, the photographer—simple observer or accomplice, capturer of emotions—builds a relationship with the model, aspiring to leave a trace, between self-affirmation and belonging to a social group.
