Edition 2019

THE SAGA OF INVENTIONS

FROM THE GAS MASK TO THE WASHING MACHINE, CNRS ARCHIVES

Thousands of photographs and films were produced in France between 1915 and 1938 as part of a national policy to encourage scientific and industrial research. These little known images constitute the visual records of twenty years of research and inventions, first anchored in war and national defense, and later in civil and domestic life. These analogue archives outline a history of innovation. This story is at the junction of science, technology, industry and design. These archives narrate a tale under construction of the institutionalization of research. From the beginning, a systematic archive policy was implemented. The institution massively produced these administrative images. Their visual rigour is striking. Behind these images, lays the visionaries and pioneers who used and played with the still and animated image, mastering their demonstrative, archival, educational, and communicational powers.

Exhibition curator: Luce Lebart.
Exhibition coproduced by CNRS and the Rencontres d’Arles, in partnership with the Archives Nationales.
Publication: Inventions (1915-1938), Luce Lebart, co-edition CNRS/RVB BOOKS, 2019.
Prints by Processus, Paris.
Wallpapers by Picto, Paris.
Framing by Circad, Paris.
Digitalization by Tribvn, Archives nationales, Vincent Guyot and CNC for the films.

  • Institutional partners

    • République Française
    • Région Provence Alpes Côté d'Azur
    • Département des Bouches du Rhône
    • Arles
    • Le Centre des monuments nationaux est heureux de soutenir les Rencontres de la Photographie d’Arles en accueillant des expositions dans l’abbaye de Montmajour
  • Main partners

    • Fondation LUMA
    • BMW
    • SNCF
    • Kering
  • Media partners

    • Arte
    • Lci
    • Konbini
    • Le Point
    • Madame Figaro
    • France Culture