The Grand Palais in Paris transformed once again into a mecca for photography enthusiasts, collectors, and artists during the 27th edition of Paris Photo from November 9 to 12, 2023. Under the iconic glass-vaulted roof, 205 galleries from 32 countries presented a breathtaking array of works, drawing an estimated 30,000 visitors—a testament to the fair's enduring appeal amid a recovering global art market.
Record Attendance and Vibrant Atmosphere
Organizers reported unprecedented footfall, surpassing pre-pandemic levels. The event's revival post-COVID has been meteoric, with private sales sessions on November 8 buzzing with high-profile collectors. The fair's structure—featuring sectors like Main, Grand Prix, Prières, Book, and the new Latin America Focus—offered something for every taste. This year's emphasis on Latin American photography brought fresh perspectives, spotlighting underrepresented voices from Mexico, Brazil, and beyond.
The atmosphere was electric, blending the tactile joy of vintage prints with the digital allure of contemporary installations. Visitors wandered through aisles lined with gelatin silver prints from masters like Henri Cartier-Bresson and Helmut Newton, juxtaposed against bold experimental pieces using mixed media and early digital techniques.
Standout Galleries and Sales Highlights
Galleries reported robust sales, signaling confidence in photography as a stable investment class. New York’s Howard Greenberg Gallery sold a rare 1940s black-and-white print by Lisette Model for €250,000. Paris-based Galerie Esther Woerdehoff moved several works by Japanese photographer Daido Moriyama, with prices ranging from €10,000 to €50,000.
The Latin America sector was a revelation. Galería El Investigador from Buenos Aires debuted with strong interest in Argentine photographer Marcos López’s colorful portraits, fetching up to €20,000. Brazilian gallery Vermelho highlighted emerging talent, with sales of experimental dye-transfer prints exceeding expectations.
Vintage photography dominated high-end transactions. A 1960s portrait by Irving Penn at Galerie Bakhshian realized €180,000, while Christie's pre-fair auctions set the tone with a Diane Arbus gelatin silver print hammering at $1.2 million. Finance watchers noted photography's resilience: returns often outpace paintings in mid-market segments, with blue-chip photographers appreciating 8-12% annually per Artprice indices.
Awards and Emerging Talents
The fair's awards underscored its commitment to innovation. The 2023 Audi Photography Award went to Carmen Winant for her immersive installation My Birth, exploring maternal narratives through found images—a poignant commentary on femininity in visual culture. The Cartier Foundation pour l’art contemporain Prize was awarded to Japanese artist Lieko Shiga for her ethereal landscapes blending mythology and modernity.
The Bourse de la Photographie du Grand Prix Paris Photo supported young talents, with five emerging artists receiving €5,000 each to develop projects. Standouts included Peru’s Luz Maria Bedoya, whose Andean documentary series captivated judges with its raw authenticity.
The Book Sector: A Bibliophile's Paradise
No Paris Photo would be complete without its renowned Book sector, featuring 50 international publishers. Highlights included Steidl’s lavish tomes on Robert Frank and MACK’s experimental photobooks. Signed first editions by Martin Parr flew off shelves at €500 a pop, while self-published zines from global independents reflected DIY culture's rise.
Technological advancements shone here too: high-fidelity digital printing enabled affordable runs of complex works, democratizing access. Exhibitors demoed UV inkjet systems producing archival-quality pages rivaling traditional lithography.
Cultural Dialogues and Tech Intersections
Panel discussions delved into photography's evolving role in culture. A session on "Photography in the Age of Social Media" debated Instagram's impact—democratizing discovery yet commodifying images. Curators like Roxana Marcoci of MoMA emphasized hybrid practices: artists merging analog processes with code-generated abstractions.
Finance meets tech in the NFT corner, though traditional collectors remained skeptical. Galleries like Heni offered blockchain-authenticated editions of blue-chip works, bridging physical and digital realms. Sales data showed hybrid pieces gaining traction, with one Thomas Struth digital print/NFT combo selling for €75,000.
Sustainability emerged as a theme. Galleries showcased eco-friendly papers from recycled fibers, and talks addressed carbon footprints of global shipping. Canon and Epson sponsored booths demoing energy-efficient large-format printers, aligning tech innovation with cultural responsibility.
Market Trends and Future Outlook
Post-fair reports pegged total sales at over €50 million, up 15% from 2022. Vintage dominated (60% of value), but contemporary surged 25%, driven by millennial buyers. Emerging markets like Asia and Latin America fueled growth, with Chinese collectors snapping up European masters.
As a tech journalist, I noted photography's tech undercurrents: AI-assisted editing tools were whispered about in side rooms, though purists decried them. Mirrorless cameras from Sony and Fujifilm had subtle presences via sponsored prints, hinting at hardware's role in creation.
Paris Photo 2023 reaffirmed photography's cultural primacy. In a world of fleeting digital images, it celebrated the deliberate, the archival, the profound. As galleries pack up and artists reflect, anticipation builds for 2024—perhaps with even bolder integrations of tech and tradition.
Visura Magazine will continue tracking visual arts finance and innovation.
