Portfolio: Masterworks Of French Photography At The Barnes (Hurry, It's Closing In Just A Few Days)

Laure Albin-Guillot (French, d. 1962). Jean Cocteau, 1934. Ferrotyped gelatin silver print, 8 7/8 x 6 5/8 in. Collection of Michael Mattis and Judy Hochberg 

Though it's primarily known, obviously, for its unrivaled collection of Impressionist paintings and folk art, one of the great surprises of the Barnes Foundation, since its move to Center City, has been its exhibitions. These shows consistently expand and build on what's in the permanent collections, and the current exhibition, Live And Life Will Give You Pictures: Masterworks of French Photography, 1890-1950, is no exception. The show pulls in a truly stunning array of works that point to both photography's earliest iterations as an art, as well as contextualizing the period in which Dr. Albert Barnes was collecting. It's deeply arresting, inspiring stuff — some of which we're happy to share here via our friends at the Barnes — but if you'd like to see it all, don't delay. The show is currently in its last days, running through January 9th.

Eugène Atget (French, 1857–1927). Boulevard de Strasbourg, Paris, 1912. Gold chloride print on printing-out paper, 8 3/4 x 7 in. Collection of Michael Mattis and Judy Hochberg

Eugène Atget (French, 1857–1927). The Marne River, La Varenne, c. 1925. Gold chloride print on printing out paper, 7 x 8 7/8 in. Collection of Michael Mattis and Judy Hochberg 

Ilse Bing (American, born Germany, 1899 or 1900–1998). Eiffel Tower, 1952. Gelatin silver print, 9 5/8 x 7 3/4 in. Collection of Michael Mattis and Judy Hochberg. © Estate of Ilse Bing

Ilse Bing (American, born Germany, 1899 or 1900–1998). Cancan Dancers, Moulin Rouge, 1931. Gelatin silver print, 8 3/4 x 6 1/2 in. Collection of Michael Mattis and Judy Hochberg. © Estate of Ilse Bing

Ilse Bing (American, born Germany, 1899 or 1900–1998). Self-Portrait with Leica, 1931. Gelatin silver print, 10 1/2 x 11 3/4 in. Collection of Michael Mattis and Judy Hochberg. © Estate of Ilse Bing 

Erwin Blumenfeld (American, born Germany, 1897–1969). Draped Nude, 1936. Ferrotyped gelatin silver print, 13 3/8 x 10 5/8 in. Collection of Michael Mattis and Judy Hochberg. © The Estate of Erwin Blumenfel 

Louis-Jean Delton (French, 1807–1891). The Godard Brothers, c. 1890. Gold chloride print on printing-out paper, 9 1/2 x 6 1/2 in. Collection of Michael Mattis and Judy Hochberg 

Felix Thiollier (French, 1842–1914), Tipping a Coal Bin, c. 1900. Gelatin silver print, 11 3/4 x 15 3/4 in. Collection of Michael Mattis and Judy Hochberg