Emeric Feher: À la vie, à l’image is an exhibition produced by the Centre des Monuments nationaux at the castle of Angers and curated by François Paviot. On view until January 17, 2016, it offers a glimpse into the wealth of the photographic collections of the Centre des Monuments nationaux. Visitors can discover period publications where Emeric Feher’s photographs were reproduced: prestigious journals, such as Arts et métiers graphiques and Art et medicine, as well as popular editions, such as Paris sex appeal and Pour lire à deux. Various 1930s’ cameras and an enlarger from the same period, on loan from the Musée de la Photographie de Bièvres, allow those unfamiliar with the traditional techniques to get to know and understand them better.
Born in Hungary in 1904, Émeric Faher settled in Paris in 1926. He was first employed at Peugeot, then Citroën; it was when he came to the Deberny and Peignot studio as an electrician and lighting engineer that he discovered what would become both his passion and his profession: photography. In 1927, he married Elisabeth who became his loyal and efficient assistant. In 1933, he became operator at René Zuber’s studio, and in 1936 launched his career as an independent photographer. He joined the “Alliance Photo” agency and published his first images. In 1937 he participated in the famous exhibition Photography: 1839–1937 at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. The press, undergoing a boom, was always in need of illustrations. Feher used his talents to cover every imaginable subject with the indefatigable energy and enthusiasm that accompanied him throughout his life. His joie de vivre also left an indelible mark on his more personal photographs which are very moving even today. During the war, he took refuge in the South of France. Upon returning to Paris, he reclaimed his studio and resumed his practice. He died of a cardiac arrest in 1966.
EXHIBITION
Emeric Feher. À la vie, à l’image
Until January 17th, 2016
Château d’Angers
2 Promenade du Bout du Monde
49100 Angers
France
02 41 86 48 77
http://www.angers.monuments-nationaux.fr
