André Gamet - Douces Frances
André Gamet, who was born in 1919, has been a photographer for over 70 years.
In 1941, he won the first prize for photography in a National Competition and in 1953, was chosen as one of the five best photographers in the World's Greatest photographers competition in New York.
He was the only professional photographer to have covered the occupation by the Nazis of Lyon as well as the Resistance in the Vercors.
In 1946, he joined the celebrated photo-agency Rapho where his friends Brassaï and Doisneau already worked.
Although he still travels a great deal, he chose to live in Lyon.
In 1994, two of his images were chosen by the city of Paris to be used as posters commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of the Liberation.
In 2004, one of his photos (bal populaire, 1944) was exhibited on the railings of the Jardin du Luxembourg.
He is interested in the magical and poetic instant, as was his contemporary Cartier-Bresson.
Books on André Gamet :
« Lyon, d'ombre et de lumière 1935-1950 », catalogue de l'exposition au Centre d'Histoire de la Résistance et de la Déportation, éd. La Martinière, 1997.
« Douces Frances 1935-2000», 400 photographies d'André Gamet, Actes Sud/Motta, 2000.
« André Gamet - Mémoires photographiques » ouvrage publié avec le concours des Archives municipales de Lyon à l'occasion de l'exposition « André Gamet 70 ans de photographie », Ædelsa éditions, 2005.
Exhibition runs from 16th November to 21st December 2007
From Monday to Friday from 2 to 6PM - Mornings and week-end by appointment