To start with, there was the brilliant title: L’Insensé (which translates as Mad). On top of that, the publication was designed by two young women as charming as they are passionate: Elisabeth Nora and Vanessa van Zuylen. Over 25 years, the magazine brought us fresh topics, and above all helped us understand that from now on photography was pouring in from far and wide. But at the end of last year, L’Insensé closed down! We are all grief-stricken. As a tribute, The Eye of Photographie is devoting today a special issue to the magazine.
Published for the last time in October 2017, L’Insensé was a cultural magazine published in black-and-white, with a cover designed by Pierre Alechinsky and with every issue zooming in on a single topic, such as the body, dreams, friendship, light, or happiness. The presence of images in the magazine magnified over time, and the format offered exceptional exposure. Guided by their passion for photography, Vanessa van Zuylen and Elisabeth decided to switch over to a purely photographic magazine. It was about time! And thus in 2000, the first issue of L’Insensé-Photo came out focused on the theme of “Women photographers.” Japanese photography, the Netherlands, Spain, France, America, Berlin, Switzerland, and Russia, soon followed. Each issue is outstanding.
The year 1991: creation of L’Insensé
L’Insensé is above all the story of an encounter. Two women: one feisty, exuberant, and a boundless dreamer; the other a perfectionist, passionate about images and publishing. Both mad about their goal: a large-format magazine which, in its early days, that is from November 1991 through 2000, gave as much room to text as it did to image. Thereafter, L’Insensé Photo was published in color, in the same exceptional format privileging the artwork. Year after year, the two editors put on paper their predilections and opinions with unfettered freedom. Who would have thought this adventure was going to last 25 years? They did!
Elisabeth Nora and Vanessa van Zuylen wish to thank all their collaborators—Céline Andreassen, Tipahine El Jouari, Camille Moulonguet, Ahlam Lajili Djalaï, Leila Sy—as well as the following individuals: José Alvarez for his unflinching support, Pierre Alechinsky, Caroline Charbonnier, Christian Caujolle, Mathias Cousin, Dominique Bourgois, Juan Castuera, Isabelle Gruffaz, Claire de Virieu, Marie Armande de Sparre, Guillaume Lecasble, Fabienne Martin, Bernard Neyrolles, Brigitte Ollier, Catherine and Prune Philippot, Evelyne Pieiller, Bernard Plossu, Anne Samson, Christine Simon, Sam Stourdzé, Gabrielle van Zuylen, and Iain Watson.
