Eugène Atget | Vieux Paris
24 SEP 2011 - 08 JAN 2012

With this ambitious exhibition, the Fotomuseum brings over 200 photographs by the French photographer Eugène Atget (1857 – 1927) to the Netherlands for the first time. Atget photographed in Paris around the turn of the last century, in places where the city had not yet been affected by demolition and modernisation. The image of the old Paris that emerges from Atget's photographs is unique, both for the details he records and in its atmosphere, which is romantic and surreal at the same time.
Atget is among the most important figures in photography, internationally, and is regarded as the originator of documentary photography. He appears in every history of photography. His work inspired countless other great photographers and visual artists, including Walker Evans, Cartier-Bresson and Man Ray. This is the first time that Atget's work has been seen extensively in the Netherlands. Prints by Atget are extremely fragile and are seldom permitted to travel. This is a unique chance to see this exceptional work by a master photographer.

Venues The exhibition will subsequently travel to Paris (the Musée Carnavalet, 17 April to 25 July 2012); and Sydney (Art Gallery of New South Wales, 21 August to 15 November 2012) and was earlier on show at FUNDACIÓN MAPFRE, Madrid.

Curated by Carlos Gollonet Carnicero, independent curator | Frits Gierstberg, Head of Exhibitions, Nederlands Fotomuseum | Françoise Reynaud, curator Musée Carnavalet | Judy Annear, curator Art Gallery of New South Wales.

Production FUNDACIÓN MAPFRE, Madrid | Nederlands Fotomuseum | Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney | Musée Carnavalet, Paris | Paris Musées