A bicentenary exhibition at Musée du Temps explores 19th-century photography's role in capturing time and memory through portraits and urban transformations.
Bicentenary exhibition on photography's origins
The Musée du Temps is celebrating the 200th anniversary of the invention of photography with an exhibition titled L'empreinte du temps. Photographier les êtres et les villes au XIXe siècle, showcasing 100 photographs from the Besançon heritage collections. Photography as a new way to see the world
The exhibition explores how the invention of photography in the 19th century transformed the way people viewed the world, emphasizing its role in capturing both people and cities during that era. Long exposure times shaped early photography
In the early days of photography, long exposure times meant that subjects had to remain still, resulting in images that captured not just a single moment but a duration of time. Photography's role in family memory
As the technology advanced, photography became more accessible, allowing portraits to be included in family albums and preserving the faces of loved ones, both living and deceased, across generations. Photography as a witness to urban change
The exhibition also highlights how photography documented urban development, showing historical views of Besançon that reveal changes such as the redevelopment of the Doubs riverbanks and the transformation of city landmarks. Preserving the past through images
By displaying these photographs, the museum emphasizes the heritage value of photography, which can preserve the traces of people and places that may no longer exist. Exhibition dates and location
L'empreinte du temps. Photographier les êtres et les villes au XIXe siècle is on display at the Musée du Temps in Besançon from November 7, 2026, to March 7, 2027.
