France celebrates bicentenary of photography with nationwide exhibitions

France is celebrating the bicentenary of photography with various exhibitions across the country, running through January 2028. This commemoration marks the period surrounding the invention of the medium by Nicéphore Niépce, whose 1827 work, ‘Le Point de vue du Gras’, remains the oldest surviving photograph.

As part of these celebrations, the French Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty is unveiling its photographic heritage at the Galerie Gambetta. The exhibition features twenty selected images that illustrate the evolution of the French agricultural sector. The collection creates a dialogue between the past and present, pairing archival images of rural landscapes and technical innovations with contemporary works that capture the current challenges facing agriculture.