In January 1898, Robert Demachy, a major figure in pictorialism, published in the Bulletin of the Paris Photo Club a passionate plea on photography. "The mistake photographers make," he wrote, "is believing that artistic vision and imagination are conferred of themselves in the darkroom." He then issued a challenge: to transcend mere technical mastery to achieve true artistic depth.
Céline Laguarde, the audacity of pictorialism
A challenge brilliantly met by Céline Laguarde , now celebrated in a retrospective at the Musée d'Orsay . Although she officially joined the Photo-Club in 1901, Laguarde lived up to Demachy's expectations, perfecting her techniques and exploring new ways to bring her art to life. Her prints, admirably preserved, bear witness to her quest for innovation and her taste for experimentation.
A well-deserved recognition, long after
The exhibition Céline Laguarde: Photographer (1873–1961) extends the reflections begun in 2015 with Who's Afraid of Women Photographers?, a joint exploration between the Musée d'Orsay and the Musée de l'Orangerie. Curator Thomas Galifot , upon discovering Laguarde's work in period magazines, was struck by the technical quality of her photographs and the recognition she enjoyed at the time.
After years of research, Galifot has gathered the artist's personal archives, thus forming the basis of a dedicated exhibition. His ambition? To present Laguarde as a major pre-war photographer, beyond gender categories, and to highlight her pioneering role in photographic art.
Originally from Biarritz , Laguarde settled in Aix-en-Provence with her widowed mother after a short stay in Paris. Coming from a privileged background, she quickly mastered the arts, particularly music, before turning to photography. At a time when this practice was becoming accessible to anyone who could "press a button," she quickly moved beyond amateurism to explore the infinite possibilities of this medium.
Céline Laguarde, Star, 1904
A technician of pictorialism
Admitted to the Photo-Club of Paris , Laguarde found a suitable space to perfect her art. There she learned pigment processes, emblematic of French artistic photography: gum bichromate, oil process, oil transfer… These techniques give her works a texture between painting and charcoal drawing.
Her portraits, often inspired by literature or the iconography of the Old Masters, reveal a gentle melancholy. Her female models, haloed in light, seem suspended outside of time. In some works, such as Nitza (Study in the Open Air) , the pigments blend and drip subtly, creating an effect of falling ashes that enriches the composition.
The exhibition also reveals his constant experimentation. Each portrait or landscape is presented in multiple versions, exploring variations in framing and printing. This rigorous approach reflects the legacy of Demachy, whose influence on Laguarde was decisive.
A work beyond pictorialism
Among the prints on display, a unique still life stands out. Unpopular with pictorialists, this genre, rare in Laguarde's work, captures flowers in a state of decay, their heavy heads falling delicately from a crystal vase. An image imbued with gravity and beauty, where the light underscores the ephemeral.
The Musée d'Orsay , a relatively newcomer to the art of photography, gives pride of place to Laguarde. With over 130 prints on display, the institution showcases the breadth of his work, as well as the impact of his technical choices on the history of artistic photography.
Céline Laguarde, Portrait of Miss de M, 1903
Rediscovering an unjustly overlooked artist
Although Laguarde enjoyed significant recognition during her lifetime, her work fell into oblivion after the Second World War. She then devoted herself to other art forms, such as microphotography and textile dyeing, while supporting her husband's scientific research.
What would have become of her work if she had continued her artistic career? Would she have adopted modern innovations such as photograms or solarizations? Or would she have continued to perfect her pictorialist aesthetic? So many questions remain open, but one certainty remains: her legacy, although recognized belatedly, amply deserves this celebration.
For more information: www.musee-orsay.fr
