France celebrates photography bicentenary with major exhibitions

France is hosting major cultural celebrations centered on the history and evolution of photography. The Maison Européenne de la Photographie in Paris will host ‘Penn & Fashion’, an exhibition dedicated to American photographer Irving Penn. Opening on September 30, 2026, the showcase features over two hundred original works spanning his career from 1939 to 2007, highlighting his influence on fashion, portraiture, and still life.

In conjunction with the bicentenary of photography, GrandPalaisRmnÉditions and the French Ministry of Culture have released ‘PHOTOgraphies’. This volume features contributions from sixteen historians, anthropologists, and curators who examine the medium through diverse perspectives rather than a traditional chronological encyclopedia. This publication is part of a year-long national celebration running from September 2026 to September 2027, involving various institutions and museums across France and internationally.