Maison de la photographie Robert Doisneau, Photography museum in Gentilly, France.
The Maison de la photographie Robert-Doisneau occupies one of the oldest buildings in Gentilly, a stone house built in the second half of the 18th century by the Jesuits, later the Hôtel du Paroy. Architect Jacqueline Eberhard converted its 200 m² interior for exhibitions. The facade has three arched windows with white frames on the upper level, two below, and three dormer windows in the dark sloped roof.
The building is one of Gentilly's oldest, erected in the second half of the 18th century by Jesuits who held a country estate south-east of Grand-Gentilly for pupils of Louis-le-Grand. In the 20th century it became the Hôtel du Paroy, a lodging house of furnished rooms, then fell into ruin; the town bought it in April 1985. In 1992, for Doisneau's 80th birthday, the photographer gave his name to the former hotel, and the gallery opened in 1996, sponsored by Jean Dieuzaide.
The house is named after Robert Doisneau, born in Gentilly on 14 April 1912, and it opened in 1996 sponsored by his friend Jean Dieuzaide. It holds no permanent Doisneau collection; instead it mounts four temporary exhibitions a year on humanist photography, including the annual "La photographie à l'école" project made with schoolchildren. The vertical poster on the facade, reading "Homer Sykes" and "Ecosse 1970-1980", recalls his 2014 show England 1970-1980.
The official address, 1 rue de la Division-du-Général-Leclerc, sits on a short dead-end section of the street that is hard to find. The RER B station Gentilly and bus line 57 (Médiathèque stop) serve the gallery; entry is free, Wednesday to Friday 1:30–6:30 pm and weekends 1:30–7 pm, closed on public holidays.
The building is one of the oldest in Gentilly, erected in the second half of the 18th century by Jesuits who held a large estate south-east of the village of Grand-Gentilly, used as a country house and retreat for pupils of the Louis-le-Grand college. In the 20th century it became the Hôtel du Paroy, a lodging house renting furnished rooms, before falling into ruin and being bought by the municipality in April 1985.
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