Japanese Photography from the Collections of the National Library of France

Organised as part of the bicentenary celebrations of photography, this exhibition presents nearly 300 works from the collections of the National Library of France (BnF), tracing 80 years of Japanese photography. Built since the 1960s, the BnF’s collection is now one of the most significant holdings of Japanese photography in the Western world.

Featuring works by around one hundred artists, the exhibition explores the diversity of Japanese photography since 1945. From documentary reportage and intimate everyday scenes to theatrical compositions and abstract works inspired by calligraphy and Zen aesthetics, it highlights the remarkable creativity of the medium. A thematic section also examines the cultural dialogue between Japan and Paris through the eyes of Japanese photographers who lived or worked in France.

Shoji Ueda, Quatre personnages sur une dune de sable - 1948 - © Shoji Ueda