Inauguration of Maison natale Hippolyte Bayard

The Maison natale d'Hippolyte Bayard —his birthplace—, a pioneer of photography born in Breteuil in 1801, will open to the public for the very first time on Sunday, September 20, 2026. 

Purchased and restored by the municipality, this 18th-century residence, located at 4 Place Bayard in Breteuil, is listed on the French Monuments Historiques since 2002. It will become a permanent cultural venue dedicated to photographic creation and exhibitions; it will also serve as an artist-in-residence program and host hands-on workshops for the public.

This inauguration marks the very first time the site has been open to the public and is part of both the Journées Européennes du Patrimoine and the Bicentennial of Photography. The inaugural guided tour will take place on Sunday, September 20, 2026, starting at 2:30 pm, and will highlight, in particular, the influence of the house and its garden on the innovative spirit of the young Hippolyte Bayard.

Hippolyte Bayard is world-famous for inventing the direct positive process on paper in 1839. This major invention—considered the precursor to the Polaroid—made it possible at the time to produce a single positive image directly, without the need for a negative.

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To mark its opening, Hippolyte Bayard’s birthplace is partnering with the 23rd edition of the Photaumnales —an initiative of Diaphane— in partnership with the Hippolyte Bayard Circle. The venue thus showcases the works of four contemporary visual artists whose creations echo Hippolyte Bayard’s spirit of experimentation. 

The following exhibitions will be on display on the ground floor of the mansion from September 20 to November 29, 2026:

↘︎ PAN by Patrice Dion: the visual artist presents a unique body of work using traditional and eco-friendly photographic processes, notably the “helio-chlorophyll” method, a plant-based printing technique that utilizes sunlight. The exhibition also includes an art education project conducted with high school students. The opening reception will take place on Sunday, September 27.

↘︎ Cinzia Romanin and Thomas Noceto: the duo presents a visual exploration centered on raw earth, natural materials, and traditional construction techniques, with the aim of examining our relationship to local resources and the land.

↘︎ "Manière Noire" Sheet Music by Clément Brugger: for her part, the artist explores the raw material of wood and its uses through the lens of photography.

↘︎ Hideyuki Ishibashi: the artist draws inspiration from the early history of photography, particularly from Henry Fox Talbot. He explores the photosensitivity of plants through leaves, light, and photograms. At the same time, he will also present a solo exhibition titled Heavenly Heaven at Espace Le Carré in Lille starting September 25

↘︎ Information: Maison natale d'Hippolyte Bayard, 4 Place Bayard, 60120 Breteuil — open every weekend from September 19 to November 29, 2026, from 2:00 pm to 5:30 pm — a second series of events will take place from January 9 to 31, 2027