Annie Ernaux & Lisa Fonssagrives-Penn

he MEP is delighted to announce its new Exhibition Season. From 28 February to 26 May 2024, we will be hosting two exhibitions of photographs from our collections: Extérieurs - Annie Ernaux et la Photographie and Lisa Fonssagrives-Penn - Icône de mode.

The first, conceived with Annie Ernaux, pays tribute to her literary work through 150 prints by 29 photographers.
The second will showcase a collection of prints that once belonged to Lisa Fonssagrives-Penn, history's first 'supermodel', offering a glimpse into 20 years of fashion photography, from 1935 to 1958.

Outside - Annie Ernaux and Photography

The MEP - Maison Européenne de la Photographie is delighted to host an exhibition of photographs from its collection, conceived with Annie Ernaux and paying tribute to her literary work. Extérieurs - Annie Ernaux et la Photographie celebrates the dynamic relationship between photography and Annie Ernaux's writing. Winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2022, Annie Ernaux is known for her social and feminist commitment, particularly to the younger generation, as well as for her ability to explore universal themes such as memory, identity and the human condition. The exhibition combines texts from Annie Ernaux's book Journal du dehors, 1993 - a transcription of scenes of daily life in the streets, trains and shops between Cergy-Pontoise and Paris between 1985 and 1992 - with works from the MEP collection.

Lisa Fonssagrives-Penn - Fashion icon

The MEP is proud to present a unique collection of vintage prints covering 20 years of fashion photography, from 1935 to 1958. This exceptional collection belonged to Lisa Fonssagrives-Penn, one of the most emblematic models of the 20th century, presented to the public for the first time. Many of these images have never been seen before, offering a glimpse into the golden age of fashion photography. Lisa Fonssagrives-Penn (1911-1992), dancer, model, photographer, stylist and sculptor, is considered the first "top model" in history. For 20 years, she was frequently published in Harper's Bazaar and Vogue. She made around 200 covers for the biggest fashion magazines of the time. At the height of her career in 1949, she appeared on the cover of Time magazine at the age of 38.

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