Photography Books and Commercial Commissions

The industry quickly turned to photography to promote its business. This selection of some twenty books, drawn from Lucien Birgé’s library—part of his ongoing donation of more than 25,000 volumes—covers the history of this genre from the early 20th century to the present day, on an international scale, primarily in Northern Europe, the historical heartland of industrial activity.

From anniversary commemorative albums to annual reports, this editorial genre—despite its institutional nature—proves to be extremely diverse and creative. It also brings together influential figures in photography and graphic design to meet the client’s objectives: ranging from promoting traditional values such as hard work and the industry’s social role, to taking a more educational approach to explain the industry’s activities and operations, all the way to renewing or even modernizing the industry’s image.