Arles, 50 YEARS OF PHOTOGRAPHY
The Rencontres d’Arles, an annual photography festival, was founded in 1970 by Arlesian photographer Lucien Clergue, writer Michel Tournier and historian Jean-Maurice Rouquette. At the time, photography was still regarded as a “minor” art and had not come of age. The festival played an important role in enabling it to gain recognition from institutions. Starting out as a series of encounters between photography enthusiasts, over the years it gained importance and popularity.