It was one of the most blessed time in the history of photography.
The end of the 60s and the beginning of the 70s: the recognition of Photography.
The discovery of entire sections of the history of the still image that had remained unknown until now.
The emergence of new collectors, curators and gallery owners who made this era a second golden age.
Baudoin Lebon has just dedicated a tribute to 2 of these legendary characters : the Tex Braun.
He entrusted us with these images and texts.
Jean-Jacques Naudet
François Braunschweig and Hugues Autexier, better known as Texbraun, began as booksellers before establishing themselves at the flea market ‘les puces’ and then founding their gallery on the Rue Mazarine. The Texbraun Gallery played a crucial role in the recognition of photography in France, thus contributing to the dynamic evolution of the photography market. It closed its doors in 1986, leaving behind an indelible legacy in the history of French photography.
Baudoin Lebon Text
François Braunschweig and Hugues Autexier formed a couple that profoundly influenced the world of photography in the 1980s. Starting as booksellers and later becoming «puciens» in Saint-Ouen, they established their gallery in the former space of Ileana Sonnabend. In this splendid yet low-ceilinged place on the Rue Mazarine, they embraced eclecticism. Mixing photographers from the 19th and 20th centuries, they daringly exhibited renowned names now celebrated like Robert Mapplethorpe, Joel-Peter Witkin since 1983, Bettina Rheims, Henry Lewis, Patrick Faigenbaum, Carlo Mollino, Pierre Molinier, among others.
For the 19th century masters, they unearthed and presented gems, from Albert Londe at La Salpêtrière to Teynard, Le Gray, Jean Renaud, Louis Robert, Viollet-le-Duc, Victor Hugo, Aguado, Meyer, and Pierson – a prolific portraitist, particularly of the Castiglione, the Emperor, and the Empress, not forgetting Nadar or the Moulin family
I had the opportunity to be around and spend time with François and Hugues, whether in a professional or private setting, navigating friendships alongside business tensions. Through them or thanks to them, I met and collaborated with numerous institutional figures or prominent dealers, such as Pierre Apraxine, Serge Bramly, Françoise Heilbrun, Philippe Neagu, Harry Lunn, and Pierre Bonhomme.
They were involved in the changes of the French cultural landscape during the 1980s, marked by sexual, artistic, and political transformations; projects initiated as early as 1982 by Jack Lang and Claude Mollard with the creation of FRAC, les journées du Patrimoine (Heritage Days) and la Fête de la Musique (The Music Day).
Their gallery existed for six years, from 1980 to 1986, until the AIDS epidemic tragically halted their remarkable project. It was a sufficiently lengthy period to imprint an indelible mark on the French photographic scene.
Baudoin Lebon
December 2023
I was a very naive young person when I by chance passed along the rue Mazarine in April 1981 with a small series of photos under my arm, unknown by François Braunschweig and Hugues Autexier. In fact, I had never heard of their gallery nor knew anything of their renown. I was with Christiane who told me to take courage and ask them for an interview whilst she waited in a nearby café. To my amazement they accepted immediately and proceeded to examine the 2 dozen prints for the next two hours. This was the first time I had shown my work to any gallery people, so I was quite surprised by their interest. Incidentally, I observed an older gentleman in the back of the office who I got to know quite well later, Harry Lunn. At the term of my initial meeting, François invited me to make an exhibition which was to take place only two months later in June 1981. This was to be my first show in a gallery, and I will never forget them for giving me that opportunity. I remember still very well this exhibition in their beautiful space; the prints were about 30cm x 40cm and framed in Plexiglas. Christian Caujolle produced a full-page expose about this exhibition where he reproduced four images. I remember them to be entirely passionate about the photography they presented, something I found so rare. A few years later in 1984, another exhibition was organized where I showed my first large prints, including the ones in this Gallery Baudoin Lebon Tribute to the gallery Texbraun.
It was a very fortunate legacy that Baudoin Lebon chose to continue supporting my work after the Texbauns sad departure.
Henry Lewis
Burradoo 28-01-2024
Galerie Baudouin Lebon
21 Rue Chapon
75003 Paris, France
www.baudoin-lebon.com I @baudoin_lebon
