Pierre Jahan French, 1909-2003
Overview
Pierre Jahan
Minuit Chanson, Place Pigalle, 1932
Photography, vintage gelatin silver print by the artist
11,3 x 17,2 cm
Born in 1909, Pierre Jahan was part of a generation of pioneers in photography who saw photography not as a scientific or technical practice, but as an art of pleasure and freedom. He thus joined Henri-Cartier Bresson, Man Ray, Lee Miller, Laszlo Moholy-Nagy, Dora Maar and their colleagues on the other side of the Atlantic, such as Alfred Stieglitz, in the quest for recognition of photography as an art form in its own right, with its own plastic and expressive possibilities. Pierre Jahan is a protean personality of the avant-garde, unclassifiable, considering photography as an exercise ground, the only law being the pleasure of the eye and the hand. Although he never claims to be dogmatic, preferring always to keep his freedom, fantasy nevertheless remains the guiding thread of his work. He marries the impulse of life and its springs of creation, he experiments with new techniques - rayograms, photograms, overprints, photomontage and photocollage - until the end.
Works
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Pierre JahanMinuit Chanson, Place Pigalle, 1932Photography, vintage gelatin silver print by the artist11,3 x 17,2 cm -
Pierre JahanPortrait avec fumée, 1933Photography, vintage gelatin-silver print by the artist36,2x 28,2 cm
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Pierre JahanAux Folies Bergères, 1934Photography, vintage gelatin-silver print by the artist19 x 17,5 cm
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Pierre JahanLe Pont Neuf, 1934Photography, vintage gelatin-silver print by the artist20, 5 x 26,5 cm
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Pierre JahanRue de la Gaîté, 1934Photography, vintage gelatin-silver print by the artist21,9 x 16,1 cm
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Pierre JahanBoucherie des Halles, 1935Photography, vintage gelatin-silver print by the artist18,5 x 17,6 cm
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Pierre JahanParis, Bière, 1935Photography, vintage gelatin-silver print by the artist26,6 x 23,7 cm
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Pierre JahanLe repos du guerrier, Coiffeur, 1936Photography, vintage gelatin-silver print by the artist32,5 x 29,5 cm
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Pierre JahanParis, 1936Photography, vintage gelatin-silver print by the artist16,7 x 18,6 cm
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Pierre JahanSur les Grands Boulevards, 1936Photography, vintage gelatin-silver print by the artist21,5 x 29,5 cm
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Pierre JahanExposition Universelle, Clôture, 1937Photography, vintage gelatin-silver print by the artist14.3 × 10.2 cm
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Pierre Jahan14 juillet, 1938Photography, vintage gelatin-silver print by the artist25 x 19,3 cm
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Pierre JahanAffiche déchirée sur une palissade, la première affiche de la loterie nationale, 1938Photography, vintage gelatin silver print by the artist26 x 20 cm
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Pierre JahanFaites votre choix, 1938Photomontage17 x 23 cmDédicacé en 1947Photomontage tiré par l'artiste
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Pierre JahanIllustration d'un livre sur le maquillage de Raymon Gid, 1938Photography, vintage gelatin-silver print by the artist38,9 x 28,1 cm
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Pierre JahanParis la nuit, 1938Photography, vintage gelatin-silver print by the artiste23 x 28,4 cm
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Pierre JahanPoisson, 1938Epreuve gélatino argentique21 x 27 cmMonotype
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Pierre JahanUn 14 juillet à Saint-Germain-des-Prés, 1938Photography, vintage gelatin-silver print by the artist18,7 x 24 cm
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Pierre JahanVenue des souverains anglais à Paris, 1938Photography, vintage gelatin-silver print by the artist22,6 x 26,7 cm
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Pierre JahanLe départ du Débarquement de la Reine Marie de Médicis à Marseille, de Rubens, 1939Photography, vintage gelatin-silver print by the artist20 × 17.8 cm
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Pierre JahanMarchande de saucisses, 1939Photography, vintage gelatin-silver print by the artist20,5 x 17,8 cm
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Pierre JahanUn certain 14 juillet, 1939Photography, vintage gelatin silver print by the artiste18,6 x 16,5 cm
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Pierre JahanLe Havre, 1940Photography, gelatin-silver print, printed by the artist in 196019,5 x 18,2 cm
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Pierre JahanDeux demi violons, 1942Photography, vintage gelatin-silver print by the artist36,5 x 29,3 cm
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Pierre JahanHomme politique et alligator, 1942Photography, vintage gelatin-silver print by the artist19 x 18 cm
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Pierre JahanM. Thiers, 1942Photography, vintage gelatin-silver print by the artist23,5 x 19,3 cm
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Pierre JahanStyle, 1942Photography, vintage gelatin-silver print by the artist20.4 × 19.6 cm
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Pierre JahanCette seringue elle peut aussi tuer, ca., 194320,5 x 15 cm
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Pierre JahanEmplacement de l'actuel Beaubourg, 1943Vintage gelatin silver print by the artist17.6 x 23 cm
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Pierre JahanLe Pendu des puces, 1943Photography, vintage gelatin-silver print by the artist36,5 x 28 cm
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Pierre JahanCanon anti-aérien devant l'Arc de Triomphe, 1944Photography, vintage gelatin-silver print by the artist16,2 x 17,2 cm
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Pierre JahanLa Libération, Place de la Concorde, Les allemands des toits tirent sur la foule, 1944Photography, vintage gelatin-silver print by the artist21 x 29,7 cm
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Pierre JahanLibération de Paris, 1944Photography, vintage gelatin-silver print by the artist23,6 x 17,5 cm
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Pierre JahanMaquisards en Corrèze, 1944Photography, vintage gelatin-silver print by the artist26 x 18,6 cm
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Pierre JahanTanks en batterie en direction du Sénat, que l'on assiège, libération de Paris, 1944Photography, vintage gelatin-silver print by the artist16,6 x 17,4 cm
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Pierre JahanLa basilique de Montmartre vue des toits d'un immeuble rue Andrieux, 1945Photography, vintage gelatin-silver print by the artist24,5 x 22,6 cm
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Pierre JahanSans titre (Horloge), 1945photomontage29.5 x 39 cmMonotypephotomontage tiré par l'artiste, with studio stamp on the back.
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Pierre JahanVendredi 25 août 1944, Place de la Concorde , 1945Photography, vintage gelatin-silver print by the artist32 x 25,4 cm
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Pierre JahanL'Herbier surréaliste (Arrehenathrum Elatius), 1945-1948Gelatin-silver print, photogram and burnt edges40 × 31 cm
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Pierre JahanL'Herbier surréaliste (Artemisia Estracunculus), 1945-1948Gelatin silver print, photogram, burnt edges40 × 31 cm
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Pierre JahanL'Herbier surréaliste (Carduus Nutans), 1945-1948Gelatin silver print, photogram, burnt edges40 × 31 cm
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Pierre JahanL'Herbier surréaliste (Cirsium Palustre), 1945-1948Gelatin silver print, photogram and burnt edges40 × 31 cm
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Pierre JahanL'Herbier surréaliste (Lotus Corniculatus), 1945-1948Gelatin silver print, photogram, burnt edges40 × 31 cm
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Pierre JahanL'Herbier surréaliste (Urtica Dioïca), 1945-1948Gelatin silver print, photogram, burnt edges40 × 31 cm
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Pierre JahanSans titre , 1945-1948Gelatin silver print, photomontage, burnt edges.40 × 30 cm
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Pierre JahanSans titre (Herbier), 1945-1948Gelatin-silver print, photogram (unique)40 × 30 cmSigned on the lower left.
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Pierre JahanSans titre (Herbier), 1945-1948Gelatin silver print, photogram, burnt edges40 × 31 cm
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Pierre JahanSans titre (Herbier), 1945-1948Gelatin silver print, photogram40 × 30 cmSigned by the artist on the lower left-corner
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Pierre JahanSans titre (Masque), 1945-1948Gelatin-silver print, burnt edges39 × 30 cm
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Pierre JahanSans titre (Nu à l'épi), 1945-1948Gelatin-silver print, photogram, burnt edges40 × 31 cm
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Pierre JahanSans titre (photogramme), 1945-1948Gelatin silver print, photogram and burnt edges40 × 30 cm
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Pierre JahanSans titre (Statue), 1945-1948Gelatin silver print, photomontage, burnt edges40 × 30 cm
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Pierre JahanA coeur perdu, 1946Photogramme30 x 40 cmPartially hand coloured monotypeDeveloped by the artist, with the studio stamp on the back. Dated by the artist.
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Pierre JahanSans titre (Herbier), 1946Gelatin silver print, photomontage, photogram40 × 31 cmSigned on the right, inside the hand silhouette
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Pierre JahanTour Eiffel en fête, 1946Photogram and collage36 x 28,7 cm
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Pierre JahanPhotographie publicitaire pour le parfum Brigand de Robert Piguet, 1946-1947Photography, vintage gelatin-silver print by the artist29 x 23,5 cm
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Pierre JahanCliché publicitaire pour Piguet, 1947Photography, vintage gelatin-silver print by the artist29,5 x 23,9 cm
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Pierre JahanNu, Plain-Chant, 1947Photography, vintage gelatin-silver print by the artist30 x 23 cm
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Pierre JahanNu, Plain-Chant, 1947Photography, vintage gelatin-silver print by the artist23 x 28 cm
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Pierre JahanPublicité pour la cristallerie Daum, 194724 x 31 cmUnique
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Pierre JahanPublicité pour la cristallerie Daum, 1947Photomontage31 x 24 cmUnique
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Pierre JahanLes Gisants de Saint-Denis, Tombeau de Henri II et Catherine de Médicis, 1948Photography, vintage gelatin-silver print by the artist29,6 x 37 cm
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Pierre JahanLa main aux yeux, 1948Photomontage23.5 x 29 cmOne of a few photographs developed by the artist himself.Signed with the studio stamp and dated on the verso.
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Pierre JahanLes Gisants de Saint-Denis, Anne de Bretagne, 1948Photography, vintage gelatin-silver print by the artist30 x 20,8 cm
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Pierre JahanPhotographie de l'incendie de l'appartement , 1948Photographie29 x 24 cmOne of only a few existing photos, developped at the time.
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Pierre JahanPhotographie publicitaire pour un produit pharmaceutique contre l'angoisse, Double distorsion, 1948Photography, vintage gelatin-silver print by the artist29,3 x 23,3 cm
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Pierre JahanPortrait d'un ange, 1948photomontage30x40 cmOne of few editions of this image, from the lifetime of the artist.épreuve tirée par l'artiste
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Pierre JahanSans titre (L'Incéndie de l'atelier), 1948Gelatin-silver print40 × 31 cmSigned on the lower right
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Pierre JahanPost-Mortem, 1950Photomontage23 x 29 cmMonotypePhotomontage tiré par l'artiste, signé avec le cachet de l'atelier sur le verso et daté.
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Pierre JahanFeux d'artifices, 1951Photogramme35,5 x 28 cmOne of only a few proofs ever developped by the artist.Photogramme tiré par l'artiste, signed with the studio stamp, titled and dated "Juillet 1951" on the back.
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Pierre JahanSurimpression d'une photo de feux d'artifice et de plumes d'oiseaux, 1951Photogram35,5 x 28 cm
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Pierre JahanNu au chardon, 1952Gelatin silver print, photogram and photo-collage40 × 30 cmSigned by the artist on the lower-left corner.
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Pierre JahanMa tête, Le masque de la mort , 1957Photography, vintage gelatin-silver print by the artist28,5 x 20,2 cm
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Pierre JahanCouverts Ravinet Denfert (dans un aquarium), 1958Photography, vintage gelatin-silver print by the artist30,3 x 24 cm
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Pierre JahanAvec Krups vous maigrirez, 1960Photomontage31 x 21 cmUniquephotomontage tiré par l'artiste et inscrit à la main
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Pierre JahanL'Operette, 1970Photo-collage sur décalcomanie.25,5 x 19,5 cmUniqueSigned by the artist on the lower right
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Pierre JahanLe Cinéma, 1970Photo-collage sur décalcomanie.22 x 30 cmUniqueSigned by the artist on the lower left, titled on the back.
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Pierre JahanLe Travail et l'art à l'usine, 1970photo collage sur décalcomanie.24 x 28 cmUniqueTitled by the artist on the back.
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Pierre JahanOn arrête pas le progrès, 1970Photo collage sur décalcomanie20 x 25,5 cmUniqueSigned on the lower left and titled by the artist on the back.
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Pierre JahanEn rêve., 1980Photo-collage30 x 39 cmUnique workSigned and titled by the artist on the lower bord. Dated by the artist on the back.
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Pierre JahanNormandie Etretat, c.1930Photography, vintage gelatin-silver print by the artist38 x 29 cm
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Pierre JahanSans titre (nature morte), c.1932Photography, vintage gelatin-silver print by the artist29 x 38 cm
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Pierre JahanHalles, Les sacs, c.1938Photography, vintage gelatin-silver print by the artist20,3 x 17,5 cm
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Pierre JahanLes Halles, c.1938Photography, vintage gelatin-silver print by the artist22,5 x 17,7 cm
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Pierre JahanMistinguett, c.1938Photography, vintage gelatin-silver print by the artist18 x 19 cm
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Pierre JahanParis la nuit, c.1938Photography, vintage gelatin-silver print by the artist17,7 x 20,1 cm
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Pierre JahanContre-jour à Auteuil, c.1940Photography, vintage gelatin-silver print by the artist20 x 17,2 cm
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Pierre JahanUntitled, c.1940Photography, vintage gelatin-silver print by the artist38,6 x 30,3 cm
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Pierre JahanNu, c.1955Photography, vintage gelatin-silver print by the artist29,3 x 22,3 cm
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Pierre JahanPortrait d'un ange , ca 1943Photography31,5 x 23,5 cmEpreuve tirée par l'artiste
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Pierre JahanSans titre, ca. 1950Photomontage21 x 30 cmMonotypePhotomontage tiré par l'artiste
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Pierre Jahan1944...., ca. 1970Photo collage sur décalcomanie.22,5 x 20,5 cmUniqueSigned on the lower left and titled by the artist on the back.
Video
Exhibitions
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Pierre Jahan (1909-2003) - Rétrospective
24 Oct - 23 Dec 2026Galerie Jean-François Cazeau, located in Paris’s Marais district since 2009, builds bridges between Modern Masters and post-war art on both sides of the Atlantic, while also embracing contemporary art. For...Read more -
Pierre JAHAN. Photogrammes et Rayogrammes : 1940-1950
Starting Sunday : La Semaine d'art des galeries parisiennes 24 Oct - 20 Dec 2025 ParisOn the occasion of Starting Sunday, organised by the Professional Committee of Art Galleries (CPGA) next October as part of Art Week in Paris, and in anticipation of the Bicentennial...Read more -
Pierre Jahan. La Fantaisie surréaliste
27 May - 30 Jun 2023Passionnée par les Maîtres Modernes, avec une préférence particulière pour le courant surréaliste, la Galerie Jean-François Cazeau - installée à Paris dans le Marais depuis 2009 - présente, du 27...Read more
Events
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La Semaine des Galeries Parisiennes de l'Estampe et du Dessin
28 Nov - 7 Dec 2025The Galerie Jean-François Cazeau and the CSEDT present the 7th edition of “La Semaine des Galeries Parisiennes de l'Estampe et du Dessin” (Parisian Galleries Week...Read more -
BRAFA 2024
28 Jan - 4 Feb 2024Galerie Jean-François Cazeau, located in the Marais district of Paris since 2009, builds bridges between the Modern Masters and post-war art on both sides of...Read more -
Paris Gallery Weekend 2023
Pierre Jahan. La Fantaisie surréaliste 26 - 28 May 2023For this year's edition of Paris Gallery Weekend, the Galerie Jean-François Cazeau has the pleasure to open to the public the exhibition 'Pierre Jahan. La...Read more
Biography
Pierre Jahan was a French photographer born in 1909 in Amboise and died in 2003 in Paris. His affinity for photography was evident from childhood, when he would borrow his sister's Kodak camera. Even before settling in Paris in 1933 and becoming part of the artistic scene, Jahan participated in various amateur exhibitions and competitions between 1925 and 1930. It was Emmanuel Sougez, director of the photography department at L’Illustration, who encouraged him to pursue a career in professional photography upon his arrival in Paris.
He developed a career as both an advertising photographer and a freelance photographer. He began as an advertising photographer through Raymond Gid, head of an advertising agency, who entrusted him with his first projects. As a freelance photographer, he produced numerous views of Paris at night, which remained for him an “inexhaustible source of photographs.” His unique perspective on the city brought him renown: his first solo exhibition took place in 1934 at the École Boulle; that same year, he began a collaboration with the magazine Plaisirs de France that would last until 1976.
In 1936, he and Sougez founded the group Le Rectangle, dedicated to the defense and recognition of French photography. Close to Surrealist circles, Jahan simultaneously developed a style of photography in which strangeness, subversion, and poetry played a central role. Also very close to Jean Cocteau, they collaborated on the book La Mort et les Statues (Death and the Statues), which presents photographs from a series Jahan had created documenting the removal of certain statues by the Vichy regime.
After the war, Pierre Jahan pursued a remarkably diverse career, encompassing artistic photography, portraiture, reportage, and advertising. He collaborated with companies such as Piguet, Renault, Daum, and Dupont, developing a concept of advertising photography based on surprise and invention rather than simply a faithful representation of the product. A member of the Groupe des XV from 1950, he actively campaigned for the recognition of photography as an artistic discipline and for the defense of photographers' rights. His work, influenced by Surrealism as much as by documentary and advertising photography, thus testifies to a constant desire to explore the creative possibilities of the photographic medium.
Related content
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Pierre Jahan (1909-2003) - Rétrospective
24 Oct - 23 Dec 2026Galerie Jean-François Cazeau, located in Paris’s Marais district since 2009, builds bridges between Modern Masters and post-war art on both sides of the Atlantic, while...Read more -
La Semaine des Galeries Parisiennes de l'Estampe et du Dessin
28 Nov - 7 Dec 2025The Galerie Jean-François Cazeau and the CSEDT present the 7th edition of “La Semaine des Galeries Parisiennes de l'Estampe et du Dessin” (Parisian Galleries Week...Read more -
Pierre JAHAN. Photogrammes et Rayogrammes : 1940-1950
Starting Sunday : La Semaine d'art des galeries parisiennes 24 Oct - 20 Dec 2025On the occasion of Starting Sunday, organised by the Professional Committee of Art Galleries (CPGA) next October as part of Art Week in Paris, and...Read more -
BRAFA 2024
28 Jan - 4 Feb 2024Galerie Jean-François Cazeau, located in the Marais district of Paris since 2009, builds bridges between the Modern Masters and post-war art on both sides of...Read more -
BRAFA Art Fair 2024
Jan 24, 2024Read more -
Pierre Jahan. La Fantaisie surréaliste
27 May - 30 Jun 2023Passionnée par les Maîtres Modernes, avec une préférence particulière pour le courant surréaliste, la Galerie Jean-François Cazeau - installée à Paris dans le Marais depuis...Read more -
Paris Gallery Weekend 2023
Pierre Jahan. La Fantaisie surréaliste 26 - 28 May 2023For this year's edition of Paris Gallery Weekend, the Galerie Jean-François Cazeau has the pleasure to open to the public the exhibition 'Pierre Jahan. La...Read more