In the era of instant digital snapshots, it's hard to fathom a time before photography. This year marks the 200th anniversary, with France celebrating through a series of travelling exhibitions showcasing the medium's 19th-century roots to contemporary digital wonders.

Back in 1826, Nicéphore Niépce created the first permanent image using a bitumen-coated pewter plate, a far cry from today’s smartphones. Fast forward to 1839, when Louis Daguerre introduced the Daguerrotype, making photography a public phenomenon. Since then, photographic techniques have evolved, branching out from studio portraits to war photography and beyond.

Now, GrandPalaisRmn is curating a grand exhibition series called Grand Angle. Exhibitions range from rural life to dance, capturing a spectrum of subjects and photographers. The selection draws from the archives of the GrandPalaisRmn and the Médiathèque du patrimoine et de la photographie (MPP), which hold over 1.8 million digitized images. These shows are being staged both in France and internationally, with recent openings in small towns and libraries.

The exhibitions aim to continue until September 2027, offering a comprehensive look at how photography has shaped and reflected our world. From the rustic charm of Ruralités to the work of late photographer Willy Ronis, these shows are a celebration of the past and a window into the future.