Inaugurated in 1667, the Paris Salon, the official art exhibition of France’s Académie des Beaux-Arts, was arguably the Western world’s greatest annual or biennial art event for the next two and a half centuries. The show’s aim was to encourage the development of the fine arts, to serve as an outlet for young artists (of all nationalities), and to broaden the impact of experimental movements–such as Impressionism in the 19th century–on popular culture.

Following in these footsteps, Galerie Perrie’s Salon d’Automne et d’Hiver aims likewise to promote a highly curated selection of works from fine-art photography’s emerging prodigies as well as 20th Century masters such as Henri Cartier-Bresson, André Kertész and Louis Stettner. In honor of this new Salon’s prestigious historical inspiration, its first curated collection tells the story of Paris itself, each piece intended to capture the simple yet elegant moments of the quotidienne, the beauty behind the banal.

René Groebli (Swiss, b.1927)

Swiss photographer, René Groebli, secured his spot among noted European photographers with his unique portfolio: Magic of the Rail, which at the time expressed a dynamism that photography wasn’t used to. After years of shadowing and studying under the iconic Hans Finsler, Groebli went on to open his own studio for industrial and advertising photography, where he captured these fluctuating scenes of

industrial and city life while traveling from Zurich to Paris.

His arrival in Paris was one that would denote his next collection. Born from a honeymoon journey through France, romanticist motifs flowed through his artistic endeavors as he attempted to capture the innermost feelings of love and appreciation that the city evoked. The timelessness of his work rejects the syndication of trends, but instead takes joy in an eternal appreciation of human connections.

Louis Stettner  (American, b. 1922)

With roots in Brooklyn, Stettner began his artistic endeavors through humble visits to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, immersing himself in the photography exhibitions that the institution had to offer. Despite being born in America, Stettner developed an avid love affair with the city of Paris after a three week excursion turned into a five year voyage. The impressive and artistically driven cosmopolitans, that were New York and Paris, became his “spiritual Mothers” as he describes.

Balancing the dualities of such cities, Stettner aims to capture changes in people, culture and architecture through black and white photography. These works have since become archives of the architectural and cultural evolution of Paris and New York, documenting the fleeting moments that made each city what it is known to be today.

However, rather than furthering an outsider perspective of these cities as a cockaigne, he brings an unforced naturalism to his work seeking out the lives of the working class. With great sensitivity, he depicts his subjects basking in the silver linings that the everyday had to offer.

“He refuses the easy tricks of originality, and renounces all showiness and effect, to seek his way within the bosom of everyday life.” – Brassaï, photographer and sculptor.

Kit Young  (British,  b. 1984)

Young’s work is characterized by a juxtaposition of unrelated moments in order to create visual patterns through his multitude of works. His photographic journey took shape when moving to France during 2009, to follow in the footsteps of mentor, Gérard Moulin. During this period his output took a new turn, exploring infinite possibilities of darkroom printing through solitary pursuits. His spur of the moment approach enables viewers of his work to experience the idiosyncrasies that he captures through his film camera.

Young defines the ownership of his work through his creative journey of producing the prints, from the negative, which provides a point of departure, to the print AKA the destination.

Kit Young in an interview with Melvin Mapa stated: “Printing is an intrinsic part of my process, without it, my prints wouldn’t be mine.”

Click here to view Galerie Perrie’s Fine Art Photography exhibition: Le Salon d’Automne et d’Hiver.