An amateur of genius endowed with precocious talent, Jacques Henri Lartigue was discovered and made famous in the United States in 1963, when he was 69 years old. This American perspective focused on the early years of his work, shots of the Belle Epoque the young Lartigue succeeded in rendering in a way no one else could. His stunning shots of the élégantes of the Avenue of the Bois de Boulogne, the early days of the automobile and aviation and sporting activities became the basis for his fame and made him a prisoner .
However there is so much more to his œuvre. A vibrant mirror of the life of this man, it not only engages us in wonder but also demands our close and careful attention.
As we explore his photo albums, Lartigue gradually unveils the course of his life. Careful reading reveals his thrills, his joys and his sorrows.
The present exhibition focuses on the 1920s, the years of his marriage with Madeleine Messager, known as Bibi, his first wife and the mother of his only son Dany The years with Bibi (1918-1930) form a highly constructed whole in Lartigue’s life and work. Robust and joyful, Bibi provided an anchor for his anxious sensibility and Lartigue magnified his wife’s serene force by his use of the panoramic format. It was also with her that he made his most beautiful autochromes.
Read the full article by Maryse Cordesse (Curator) in the French version of Le Journal
EXHIBITION
Jacques Henri Lartigue – Bibi
From July 1st to August 25th, 2013
Église des Trinitaires
13200 Arles
10am – 7.30pm
8 €
