Featuring Brazilian photographer Lita Cerqueira, recognized as one of the most remarkable black‑and‑white photographers of her generation.

In 2020, the Bibliothèque nationale de France presented at the Grand Palais an exceptional exhibition of black‑and‑white masterpieces from its photographic collections. For this rare occasion, works were taken out of the BnF reserves to form a panorama spanning 150 years of photographic history — from the 19th century to contemporary creation. Nadar, Man Ray, Ansel Adams, Willy Ronis, Robert Doisneau, Helmut Newton, Diane Arbus, Mario Giacomelli, Robert Frank, William Klein, Daido Moriyama, Valérie Belin, Lita Cerqueira… major figures of French and international photography were brought together to highlight the enduring power of black‑and‑white aesthetics in a world increasingly saturated with color.

Edited by the Bibliothèque nationale de France, 2020. 264 pages. Texts in French. Curators and authors: Sylvie Aubenas, Héloïse Conésa, Flora Triebel and Dominique Versavel.