Galerie Le Minotaure is presenting a comprehensive exhibition of works by Florence Henri as part of the PhotoSaintGermain festival, celebrating the pioneering photographer's revolutionary contributions to avant-garde photography. The exhibition brings together emblematic prints from the 1920s and 1930s, all created during the artist's lifetime and bearing her signature, offering visitors a rare glimpse into her groundbreaking work.
A centerpiece of the exhibition features twelve prints from a portfolio published in 1974 by Galerie Wilde in Cologne, which marked a decisive moment in the rediscovery of Henri's work after decades of neglect. These prints represent essential milestones for understanding the force and originality of her artistic journey, providing insight into her unique vision that challenged conventional photography.
Florence Henri's path to photography was unconventional, as she was initially trained in music and later in painting before discovering her true calling. Her artistic transformation occurred after her pivotal stay at the Bauhaus in 1927, where she encountered influential figures László Moholy-Nagy and Lucia Moholy. This experience fundamentally changed her artistic direction and introduced her to the experimental approaches that would define her work.
Returning to Paris after her Bauhaus experience, Henri quickly established herself with a singular photographic style that drew heavily from post-Cubism and Constructivism movements. Her innovative compositions featured mirrors, reflections, and multiple perspectives that deliberately disrupted viewers' visual bearings, often pushing her work to the brink of abstraction. These techniques created a distinctive visual language that set her apart from her contemporaries.
Henri's significance in the photographic avant-garde was firmly established in 1929 when she participated in the legendary exhibition "Film und Foto" alongside renowned photographers Man Ray, Germaine Krull, and André Kertész. This participation affirmed her central role within the international photographic community and solidified her reputation as an innovative artist pushing the boundaries of the medium.
However, the Second World War dramatically interrupted Henri's photographic momentum and career trajectory. Deprived of essential photographic materials during the war years, she was forced to return to painting and subsequently fell into relative obscurity. For decades, her groundbreaking contributions to photography remained largely forgotten by the art world and public alike.
The rehabilitation of Florence Henri's work began in the early 1970s, thanks to the dedicated efforts of Ann and Jürgen Wilde, who recognized the importance of her contributions to photography. They organized an exhibition dedicated to her work and collaborated directly with the artist to publish a portfolio of twelve modern prints, which are now presented in the current exhibition as testament to her enduring influence.
The Florence Henri exhibition runs from November 6-29, 2025, at Galerie Le Minotaure, located at 2 rue des Beaux-Arts in Paris's 6th arrondissement. The gallery can be contacted at 01 43 54 62 93, and additional information is available at www.galerieleminotaure.net and https://www.photosaintgermain.com/.
