From 13 October 2026 to 23 January 2027, the Part-Dieu Library is hosting a retrospective exhibition dedicated to Georges Vermard, a prominent press photographer from Lyon, as part of the National Bicentenary of Photography. The exhibition is being held in the Heritage Space and features a selection of images from the Lyon Municipal Library’s (BmL) collection. In 1990, the BmL acquired about 15,000 negatives and photographic prints by Vermard, documenting his entire journalistic career from 1957 to 1971. During this time, he worked with local publications such as L'Écho-Liberté and Reflets de la Vie lyonnaise et du Sud-Est, as well as national magazines like Marie-Claire. Vermard was the first photographer from daily local press to be included in the library's collections. Georges Vermard was born in Poule-les-Écharmeaux (Rhône) on 10 January 1934. He left school at the age of 13 and worked various small jobs before turning to photography. Starting in 1957, he worked in the Lyon press, initially at L'Écho-Liberté, and later as a photo reporter. He collaborated with major regional newspapers such as Le Progrès and Le Dauphiné libéré, as well as national titles. His photographs were published in international magazines such as Life and Paris-Match, where he became a local correspondent. A notable event in his career was covering the Feyzin disaster in January 1966. In 1971, he left the press and moved into audiovisual media. He later founded Imagine, an independent production company, and produced nearly 200 documentary or advertising films. In addition, Vermard developed a lifelong passion for Egyptology, resulting in several publications, and explored artistic practices in painting, sculpture, and poetry. The exhibition aims to showcase the unique perspective and richness of Georges Vermard’s photographic work. The BmL is also organizing a cultural program that explores photography, the press, and 1960s society, while drawing connections to contemporary issues related to image and media. Activities include guided tours, accessible meetings in LSF (French Sign Language), discussions on fashion photography and women’s press, walks through Lyon’s press sites, a conference on the Palais d’hiver, and screenings of archive films. These events provide a deeper understanding of Vermard’s work and the era in which he lived. The programming continues beyond the exhibition, with events focused on contemporary photography, silver techniques, media, and urban transformations. The exhibition is organized by the Regional Documentation Department of the Part-Dieu Library, with Christelle Petit, Béatrice Michel, David Cizeron, Philippe Rassaert, and Guillaume Genay. It is supported by Virginie and Sandra, the daughters of Georges Vermard. The exhibition will officially open on 15 October at 18:30.