L is for Look

Co-produced by the Institut pour la photographie – which also provided scientific direction and executive production – and Photo Élysée in Lausanne, the exhibition L is for Look explores a little-known editorial genre: Children’s Photobook.

↘︎ Following its first two venues in Lausanne and Essen, it is currently on display from 6 July to 4 October 2026 at the Rencontres d’Arles in the Espace Van Gogh.

From the 1930s to the present day, these albums have captivated entire generations without ever really coming to the attention of the ‘big names’. Within the exhibition, designed with children (and adults!) in mind, around a hundred original books, mock-ups and interactive displays shed light on this overlooked genre.

Following an initial showing in Lausanne and ahead of its presentation in Lille by the Institut pour la photographie, ‘R comme Regarder’ is embarking on a European tour of five partner institutions: the Museum Folkwang in Essen, the Rencontres de la photographie d’Arles, the Centre national de l’audiovisuel (CNA) in Luxembourg, and Foto Arsenal Wien.

↘︎ The exhibition is on display at the Espace Van Gogh in Arles city centre. It is open to the public every day from 9.30 am to 7.30 pm.

L is for Look catalogue
↘︎ Co-published with Spector Books
↘︎ 262 pages
↘︎ Available in three languages (French, English, German) to accompany the exhibition
↘︎ On sale online and at the Rencontres d’Arles
↘︎ Retail price: €59.00

Scientific Committee
↘︎ Paul Cottin, adviser to the PoBoC association, which specialises in children’s photo books
↘︎ Rose Durr, PhD student in anthropology and the history of photography, holding a CIFRe fellowship at the Institut pour la photographie
↘︎ Florian Ebner, Head of the Photography Department at the Centre Pompidou, Paris
↘︎ Anne Lacoste, Director of Institut pour la photographie

Executive production and scientific direction
↘︎ Institut pour la photographie

Co-production
↘︎ Institut pour la photographie and Photo Élysée