First photograph in history returns to France for bicentenary

The world's oldest surviving photograph, ‘View from the Window at Le Gras’, is returning to France to mark the bicentenary of photography. Captured by inventor Nicéphore Niépce around 1826 in Burgundy, the heliograph plate has been held by the Harry Ransom Center in Austin, Texas, since 1952.

French Culture Minister Catherine Pégard announced the temporary loan, describing the return as a milestone for national memory. She noted that in the 19th century, France chose not to patent the invention, instead offering the knowledge to humanity, which facilitated the global development of photojournalism, science, and visual culture.

The return of the image is part of a state-led program running until September 2027. This bicentenary celebration includes over a thousand projects across 40 countries, involving major institutions such as the Centre Pompidou and the Bibliothèque Nationale de France to explore the impact of photography on society.