Swiss Foundation of Photography, Art museum and photography archive in Mattenbach, Winterthur, Switzerland
The Swiss Foundation of Photography is an art museum and photograph archive located in Winterthur that focuses on photographic work and research. It holds an extensive collection with over 30,000 publications, current magazines, and archived photographs spanning different periods and styles.
The institution was established in 1971 as Switzerland's primary center for preserving photographic heritage and history. Since its founding, it has systematically collected photographs from the 19th century forward, making it a major repository of the country's visual past.
The foundation presents exhibitions that explore Swiss photography and its creators through different artistic perspectives. You can see how photographers have used their medium to document life, relationships, and visual stories over time.
The museum is open from Tuesday through Sunday, with extended hours on Wednesdays for longer visits. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended since you will spend time moving through galleries and viewing different exhibitions.
An online image archive platform offers digital access to catalogued photographs from anywhere in the world. This makes the collection available to researchers and photography enthusiasts without needing to visit in person.
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