Jean-Claude Gautrand

Overview

A photographer, curator, journalist, critic, historian of photography, who was responsible for several notable works, Jean-Claude Gautrand (1932-2019) was above all known for publishing L’assassinat de Baltard [The Murder of Baltard] (Formule 13 éditeur) in 1972, which won that year’s Prix du Livre at Les Rencontres d’Arles.

It is worth remembering that the Baltard lodges – 19th century iron structures – were demolished after the market at les Halles was moved to Rungis in 1969. Like many good Parisians, and lovers of the capital city, Jean-Claude Gautrand was moved, and as a young photographer decided to document the destruction ordered by the then President, Georges Pompidou.

Podcast France Inter : Jean-Claude Gautrand, un photographe de la mémoire des lieux et de la mémoire des temps

Works

Video

Biography

1932

Jean-Claude Gautrand is born on December 19 in Sains-en-Gohelle (Pas-de-Calais, France).

1956

He joins the PTT photography club and discovers the work of Otto Steinert and subjective photography.

1963

Gautrand founds the group Gamma with two friends in reaction against pictural conformism. He is the co-founder of the group Libre Expression with Jean Dieuzaide, Pierre Riehl, Georges Guilpin, André Bilet, André Senil...

1964

He joins the photography club 30X40 and becomes its vice-resident.

1968

He publishes his first book, Les Murs de Mai 1968 (Ed. Pensée et Action).

1972

Gautrand publishes L’Assassinat de Baltard (Ed. Formule 13) which wins the Prix du Livre at the Rencontres d’Arles.

1976

He becomes a member of the Board of Directors of the Rencontres Internationales de la Photographie d’Arles (until 1995).

1977

He publishes Forteresses du dérisoire (Ed. Presse de la Connaissance)

1984

Jean-Claude Gautrand is the curator of the René-Jacques exhibition in Lyon (Fondation nationale de la photographie). He becomes secretary-general of the Prix Nadar (until 2006).
He is awarded Chevalier de l’ordre des Arts et des lettres.

1988

He is the curator of the exhibition Visions du Sport – Photographies 1860-1960 in Lyon (Fondation Nationale de la Photographie), in Paris (Mission du Patrimoine photographique), and in Lausanne (Musée de l’Elysée) in 1989. A catalogue is published (Ed. Admira).

1990

He is the curator of the exhibition Photo de Famille, in Paris (Grande Halle de la Villette).

1993

Jean-Claude Gautrand publishes Bercy - La dernière balade, with Philippe Gautrand (Ed. Marval). 2001

He joins the Board of Directors of the Patrimoine photographique.

2004

Gautrand is the founding member of the Jeu de Paume association.

2018

He publishes Itinéraire d’un photographe (Ed. Bourgeno)

2019

Gautrand dies on September 23 in Paris at the age of 86.

As a journalist, critic or photographer, he has collaborated since 1965 to numerous French and international magazines such as Photo Ciné Revue, Nouveau Photo Cinéma, Photojournal, Le Photographe and Réponses-Photo.