BnF presents exhibition of Japanese photography from 1945 to 2025

The Bibliothèque nationale de France (BnF) is hosting an exhibition of its extensive collection of Japanese photography, spanning the years 1945 to 2025. The exhibition features approximately 250 to 300 works, primarily in black and white, selected from a collection of 4,000 prints.

The curated journey explores various thematic axes, including post-war realistic documentary photography, the documentation of local customs and rural rituals, and urban expansion. It also highlights poetic expressions of nature and theater, such as cherry blossom blooms and snowstorms.

Key artists featured in the collection include Hiroshi Hamaya, noted for his documentation of ancient traditions in the countryside, and Hiromi Tsuchida, known for her series capturing life in Tokyo. The exhibition also touches upon the Konpora Shashin movement of the 1970s and 1980s, which emphasizes the poetics of small, everyday objects, as seen in the work of Rinko Kawauchi.