Until February 16, 2019, the ARGENTIC gallery presents a selection of portraits by five great masters of African photography: Seydou Keïta, Cornelius A. Augustt, Jean W. Depara, Malick Sidibé and Philippe Koudjina. All prints were made by Philippe Salaün, printer and friend of these photographers, and come from his personal collection.
You can also make your portrait “Play it like Keïta” in front of one of the fabrics coming from Seydou Keïta’s studio.
From the beginning of the 20th century, the first African photographers set up their studios in almost all capitals and big cities of Africa, often after rubbing shoulders with the European studios installed on the spot or after a military service in the colonial armies. If the practices and the way vary according to the country, the African photographers quickly appropriated the techniques of photography without difficulty and developped their own esthetic turned mainly towards portrait photography. fashionable young people, disguised children, women in traditional dress, radiant teenagers, the whole African society crowds the photo studios to get their portrait. They pose in front of a neutral background, striped or patterned curtain, and are framed sometimes close-up sometimes in full length but always with strength and style.
The African Studio
Until February 16th
ARGENTIC Gallery
43 rue Daubenton
75005 Paris
http://www.argentic.fr
