The launch of The Metamorphoses of the Laboratory!

A look back at the launch of the book The Metamorphoses of the Laboratory at Les Rencontres d’Arles! Published by The Eyes Publishing and led by PICTO on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of photography, this book was launched in the heart of the festival at Fujikina. This evening was a highlight of the festival, filled with wonderful encounters and many discussions about the history of the PICTO laboratory, as well as the close relationship between photographers and printmakers.

The event was also a reminder that, in an increasingly digital world, printed photographs continue to hold a unique emotional and artistic value.

A huge thank you to Fujifilm France and all other partners who contributed to this festival.

About the book:

The book The Metamorphoses of the Laboratory was published on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of photography. Dedicated to the practice of the photographic laboratory, it highlights the experience of printing: the emergence of the image and its making, which has led many photographers to devote themselves to the medium. While, in the collective imagination, taking photographs has always been in the spotlight, the printing stage has long been regarded as work carried out behind the scenes. This book pays tribute to the photographic lab, celebrating its many forms, transformations and emotions.

When Pierre Gassmann founded the PICTO laboratories in 1950, he was already a friend to many of the great post-war photographers. He became a trusted companion in their careers, guided by his approach to printing and his commitment to “seeing through the eyes of another.” He trained many printers, who in turn championed this exceptional craft.

In 2026, black-and-white enlarger printer Thomas Consani—son of a printer of the same name, trained at DUPON and later at PICTO—was nominated by the Ministry of Culture to receive the distinction of Maître d’art (Master of Art). Awarded to a master-and-apprentice pair, this recognition will honour not only excellence in a craft, but also a commitment to passing it on: the recipient will be tasked with transmitting the gestures and knowledge of a practice at the heart of photography’s history to a designated apprentice.

Alongside the unique expertise of photographic printers, photographers have always taken an interest in this stage of the process. Some make their own prints; others work in close collaboration with a skilled craftsperson. Today, many artists are passionate about experimenting with images and printing. By revisiting the finalists and winners of the PICTO LAB / Experimenting with the Image creative residency programme, we gain a better understanding of the processes involved in these photographers’ research and creative practice.

About the book – PICTO