In and Out

The history of architectural photography dates back to between 1826 and 1827 with the oldest surviving photograph in the world: View from the Window at Le Gras, a heliograph by Nicéphore Niépce, its inventor. In the early 19th century, daguerreotypes, the cameras used at the time, required long exposure times. As a result, architecture became a major source of inspiration, leading photographers to develop a fascination for architectural curves and lines.Photographers documented the construction of the Eiffel Tower, the Paris Metro, and New York skyscrapers. They also captured the work of renowned architects such as Le Corbusier and the Bauhaus movement. More recently, urbex—short for urban exploration—has focused on exploring abandoned places. The images produced reveal architecture put to the test by time, questioning human constructions and their ephemeral nature. During the 20th century, photography evolved into a fully recognized art form. While images often faithfully reproduce buildings, the artist’s subjective perspective conveys atmosphere, plays with light, and moves towards abstraction. The artist translates a personal vision of a structure and its architectural elements. This selection invites you to discover these unique perspectives.