La Galerie Rouge — Attraction in Paris

VERY GOOD AND VERY BAD : The wise decision that the French government, who ever it was, took,was to take up or consider photography as a kind of state affair. The only country in Europe which did the similar is Finland, granting very longtime support to its leading photographers. I started to know Agathe Gaillard herself and the gallery , without precise remembrance, in the very early 1990s, also knowing by that time Edouard Boubat in person. I still remember a very special moment, when I bought (after the death of Boubat, in 1999) two prints of him , and there was "Saut de Pont de L'Europe", a very famous picture of Cartier-Bresson, shown at "la vitrine". We were packing the other prints. and somebody stepped in, asking for the price. It was something, as the prints of Cartier-Bresson were factured in US currency, exceeding 3.000,- Dollars, and the guy stepped out, saying "too expensive", which would make you cry today.

It is hard or very doubtful to say if the new gallery (Agathe Gaillard sold off) will be able to be in line what it was, but it is nice that the place (endroit) so full of memories did not get lost. +++ Update, April 2019 and Autumn 2020 : There were prints exposed, coming from Bernard Boubat, the son, of Boubat. The young lady then in charge mainly looked in her computer. It does not seem that she understands what collectors are made of. A number of the prints would have needed retouche, but this was not done. I felt a lot of pain, as this has been a very particular place. And the story goes on as this was really a kind of "sacred place" (lieu sacré en Francais), but this will be hardly respected. There is quite something to do about (or not). It seems that the "repreneur" is acquainted with Emmanuel Macron. Alone : Money does not replace the old spirit. This is the issue with Investment Bankers ! - Once Agathe Gaillard, over her desk, told me about André Kertesz. That is the mesure we are talking about. Thus, some clearing up would ne needed. +++ One day later, I went to Galerie Hug, rue de Seine. This is like Agathe, in her times ! ++ Happy to put more stars if justified ! But is does not look good ! The "Galerie" should have been bought by someone else....

Excellent photo gallery with great exhibitions! I really loved seeing the work of Martine Barrat, Edouard Boubat and Barbara Crane. The directrice Agathe Cancellieri is extremely passionate and knowledgeable about photography and is very welcoming. I recently stopped by the current show and the work of Claude Batho really moved me, and luckily they had copies of her recently published book, "Instants très simples" which I immediately picked up a copy. If you re interested in seeing beautiful vintage photographs don't hesitate to visit La Galerie Rouge. Be sure to ask for Agathe, the directrice, she...

Je donne rarement mon avis publiquement mais cette fois-ci je fais une exception pour cette remarquable galerie. J'y suis allé ce 7 janvier, un peu par hasard, même si je connais ce lieu emblématique. Je revenais de la dernière expo de stéphane Couturier que j'adore et j'ai décidé de franchir le pas de la porte, attiré par le titre "chicago". Et là, un grand bonheur. Déjà les galeristes sont fort sympathiques, elles vous parlent avec le sourire, vous présentent le travail exposé, vous accompagnent juste ce qu'il faut. Ça change de beaucoup de galeries... Ensuite, l'expo en elle-même : rien à jeter, une vraie cohérence en termes de photographes, de qualité, de propos entre le travail des précurseurs de cette "école de Chicago" (la vraie, pas celle des économistes pourris...), les ishimoto, josephson, metzker etc. et la nouvelle génération (clarissa Bonet, todd Diederich, de très belles découvertes). Quel bonheur pour moi de voir des oeuvres d'ishimoto et de Barbara Crane, trop peu exposés en France ! Des portraits de Metzker aussi. Les 3 parties de la galerie avaient chacune leur thématique permettant de guider le regard sur des ensembles liés. Les tirages étaient vraiment bons et les prix tout à fait abordables vu la qualité. Bravo ! Vivement la prochaine...