I take you on a journey through time, discovering a little-known side of Émile Zola: that of the photographer.
If his name immediately evokes the great literary frescoes of the 19th century, it is less well known that he was also a photography enthusiast, close to Nadar .
"Zola photographer" at Espace Richaud, Versailles (78, France), until April 20: https://www.versailles.fr/1884/culture/espace-richaud/expositions-temporaires/exposition-zola-photographe.htm
An original visual universe imbued with intimacy, poetry and great artistic sensitivity.
As you wander through the beautiful rooms of the Espace Richaud, you will discover a whole host of photographs depicting Zola's life and, by extension, the soul of the 19th century. 📚
Passionate about the technical advances of his time, Zola appropriated photography with the same acuity that he put into his novels.
His gaze, both curious and methodical, captures the beauty of everyday scenes: the play of shadows on a facade, the harmony of objects in a bourgeois interior, the delicacy of fabrics and curtains in a living room.
What is striking is his sense of composition. These are not simple snapshots, but images conceived like paintings, where every detail seems to tell a story. The light, sometimes diffuse and soft, sometimes sharp and contrasting, plays a key role.
In his family portraits, we perceive a quest for truth and emotion: the faces, captured in natural poses, exude a touching sincerity.
One of the most fascinating aspects of this exhibition is Zola's interest in interiors and the staging of living spaces.
He photographs rooms like a frozen setting, capturing the hushed atmosphere of his time. The thick drapes, the soft carpets, and the bookcases overflowing with books speak to us of his world, his tastes, and his aesthetic.
If you are interested in decoration, it is fascinating to observe how the arrangement of objects, the choice of materials and colors reflect a refined lifestyle, thought out down to the smallest details.
It's also a journey. We discover, in particular, photographs of the writer taken during his travels in Italy and England.
Here again, his gaze is that of an artist: he captures the elegance of the architecture, the changing reflections of the light on the stone, the perspectives which give an impression of depth and grandeur.
An approach, magnificently explained, which is reminiscent of that of the Impressionist painters (Caillebotte, Manet, etc.) whom he admired so much and who were apparently inspired by him.
One of the most moving sections of the exhibition is devoted to his exile in London. His photographs convey the solitude and melancholy that inhabited the writer during these difficult times. The misty views of the English capital convey a sense of isolation and a search for direction.
Ultimately, Zola's photography resonates with his writing: the same quest for authenticity, the same attention to detail, the same desire to capture the truth of the world around him.
