When Marion and Philippe Jacquier founded the Lumière des roses gallery in 2005, they chose to explore the vast and fertile field of anonymous photography. Scouring flea markets and flea markets, where a multitude of images of all kinds wash up, they unearthed family photos, scientific, legal, and erotic photographs, press prints, and more. Like gold prospectors, these image hunters sifted through hundreds of photographs to extract a few gems.
Alongside their work as dealers, they selected images that fascinated them for their uniqueness, their mystery, the confusion they aroused, or simply because they found them beautiful. There was no strategy or selection criteria behind this approach; simply the awareness of having in their hands unique pieces that they would never find again.
Twenty years later, this random collection has grown into a collection of approximately 10,000 images spanning more than a century of photography history.
The exhibition presents a kaleidoscope of the most representative images of vernacular photography, as well as collections grouped around themes such as history, intimacy, and obsessions, highlighting its incredible diversity.
By presenting a small part of the extraordinary production of anonymous photography, the curators also wish to pay tribute to all the amateur photographers who have exercised their vision without any limits other than that of their imagination.
This collection has recently been acquired by the Antoine de Galbert Foundation, which has donated it to the Musée de Grenoble.
In Praise of Anonymous Photography
Cloître Saint Trophisme, Arles
July 7 – October 5
Eloge de la photographie anonyme
Collection Marion et Philippe Jacquier / Donation de la fondation Antoine de Galbert au musée de Grenoble
