Jacques Henri Lartigue, known for the official 1974 presidential portrait of Valéry Giscard d’Estaing, achieved recognition relatively late in life at the age of 69. Long before his 1963 exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art in New York and portfolio in Life Magazine, the photographer spent decades documenting his upper-class surroundings with a stereoscopic camera, capturing early-20th-century life in motion.
Early Beginnings and the Pursuit of Movement
Born into a wealthy banking family in 1894, Lartigue received early encouragement from his father, who introduced him to photography. By 1902, the young photographer logged his first picture taken absolutely alone. Fascinated by optics and the mechanics of motion, Lartigue utilized stereoscopic cameras—an early form of three-dimensional imaging—to freeze movement that the eyes let escape. In 1905, he captured his cousin, Madeleine van Weers, flying over the steps of the rue Cortambert in Paris.
Decades later, that same focus on movement influenced his work with Valéry Giscard d’Estaing. Rather than utilizing the classic presidential desk, Lartigue chose to feature a flag fluttering in the wind to convey dynamism, mirroring the spontaneous energy found in his early amateur collections.
Did you know? Lartigue declared: “I am not a photographer, only someone who, for his pleasure, has taken photographs all his life…”
Archival Preservation and the “La Vie en relief” Documentary
A documentary directed by Denis Gaubert, titled La Vie en relief, explores twenty-five years of Lartigue’s practice through an examination of 5,000 stereoscopic images. According to the filmmaker, the project integrates Lartigue’s personal diaries, agendas and refined writings with images to provide viewers with a look at the Belle Époque and the Roaring Twenties.
“In looking at the film in 2D, one sees already very well that Lartigue sought to dazzle,” Denis Gaubert stated in the production’s presentation dossier. “In discovering them in 3D, as he had conceived them, one bascules into another dimension.”
Understanding Stereoscopic Photography
Stereoscopic photography relies on human binocular vision to generate depth perception. By capturing two images slightly offset, photographers enabled viewers to look through special glasses that reproduced the world in three dimensions. While popular in the late nineteenth century, the medium saw a decline following the rise of cinema, prompting Lartigue to turn toward panoramic formats. Lartigue also dreamed of being a painter.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Jacques Henri Lartigue become famous?
Lartigue gained recognition in 1963 at age 69, following an exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York and a feature in Life Magazine.
What is the documentary “La Vie en relief” about?
Directed by Denis Gaubert, the 68-minute documentary explores twenty-five years of Lartigue’s photographic work using 5,000 stereoscopic images and his personal diaries.
Did Lartigue consider himself a professional photographer?
No, Lartigue viewed photography as a hobby, earning a living as a portraitist and dessinateur, though his canvases did not convince collectors.
Explore more archival retrospectives and cultural commentary by subscribing to our daily newsletter or joining the conversation in the comments below.
Keep reading