The Eye - Photographs from the Collection, 1930-2000

Exhibition Catalogue The Eye - Photographs from the Collection, 1930-2000, presented at the Musée Cantini, Marseille (5 July - 3 November 2024).

This very rich photographic collection was built up, without any guiding principle, according to the sensitivities of the time, in response to events in the region such as the Rencontres d'Arles and the Avignon Festival. The collection has grown from strength to strength, with major acquisitions ranging from photographs of the Nouvelle Vision movement to those of Man Ray, which were included in the Man Ray and Fashion exhibition in 2020.

Whether we're talking about framing, perspective, optical games, abstraction, documentary or narrative proposals, the themes that run through this book invite us to compare photography with the issues and artistic productions of the twentieth century.

By looking beyond chronology and the dichotomies between ‘big names’ and unknowns, we are highlighting the diversity of collections, views and approaches.