A major exhibition featuring the intimate photographic portraits of Denise Colomb opens at Val Fleury from October 10 to December 14, 2025, showcasing the work of one of the 20th century's greatest portrait photographers. The exhibition reveals rare moments of intimacy captured through family scenes, encounters with strangers during travels, and immortalized portraits of renowned artists.
Despite creating some of the most iconic artist portraits of the 20th century, including the famous photograph of Nicolas de Staël in a black shirt, Denise Colomb remains relatively unknown to today's audiences. Her name stays discreet, even confidential, though her artistic photographs are constantly featured in exhibitions worldwide due to their remarkable truth and sincerity that perfectly embody the subjects' artistic work.
The French photographer's career spanned over a century of life, from 1902 to 2004, during which she built her body of work through countless encounters both distant and intimate. Her photography tells the story of bonds formed with subjects - whether fleeting or lasting - always imbued with respect and tenderness, where intimacy never becomes intrusive. What made her work so captivating was her genuine fascination with meeting others and her ability to capture authentic human connections.
Colomb's sensitive artistic vision extended beyond famous artists to include intimate portraits of those close to her and strangers she encountered during her extensive travels. Her work reflects a generous spirit that ultimately led to her donating her entire photographic collection to the French State in 1991, ensuring her artistic legacy would be preserved for future generations.
The current exhibition represents a valuable collaboration between multiple institutions and family members who have worked to preserve Colomb's legacy. The show was developed with support from the Médiathèque du patrimoine et de la photographie, which houses the photographer's collection, as well as the artist's family who holds the moral rights to her work. Key family collaborators include her son Olivier Cahen, a longtime resident of Gif-sur-Yvette, and her grandson Antoine Cahen, who serves as General Delegate of the Denise Colomb Committee that brings together the artist's beneficiaries.
Visitors can experience this comprehensive retrospective of Denise Colomb's intimate portraits at Le Val Fleury, located at Allée du Val Fleury in Gif-sur-Yvette, Essonne, through December 14, 2025. The exhibition provides an opportunity for art enthusiasts to discover or rediscover the remarkable sensitivity and human connection that defined this master photographer's career spanning over eight decades.
