At the Rencontres d'Arles, 200 years of animal photography, from 19th-century zoos to social media cats

The Rencontres d'Arles photography festival is showcasing "Animal Model," an exhibition and editorial project that delves into the 200-year history of animal photography. Curated by photography historian Nathalie Herschdorfer, the project examines the multifaceted ways animals have been captured by the camera since photography's inception.

Herschdorfer's extensive research, based on a collection of 10,000 objects, presents around 600 images. The exhibition traces the evolution of animal imagery from the scientific studies of 19th-century pioneer Eadweard Muybridge, who meticulously documented movement, to contemporary artists like Helmut Newton and Andreas Gursky. It also highlights the work of dedicated wildlife photographers such as Vincent Munier and emerging talents like Laurence Kubski.

The project underscores the enduring presence of animals in photographic representation, noting their journey from early scientific and artistic endeavors to their ubiquitous presence in modern digital culture. The exhibition points out that the very first image posted on Instagram in 2010 was of a dog, and the first YouTube video in 2005 featured co-founder Jawed Karim at the San Diego Zoo with elephants, a video that has since garnered nearly 380 million views.

"Animal Model" not only revisits historical and artistic milestones but also reflects on the cultural significance of animal imagery, from early zoo photography to the viral phenomenon of cute animal content on social media platforms. The exhibition will also be presented in Lausanne later in the year.