Marcel Imsand Collection enters the Musée de l'Elysée Collection
On February 13th, 2012, the Marcel Imsand Collection was given to the Musée de l'Elysée. Anne-Catherine Lyon, State Counselor and Head of the Department of Education, Youth and Culture, along with the Musée de l'Elysée, welcomed into the archives the estate of one of the canton of Vaud’s most celebrated photographers.
Marcel Imsand is one of the Switzerland’s most prominent photographers. Author of a rich body of work spreading across a number of genres, Ismand has worked with documentary, portrait, and landscape photography. His photographs exercised an undeniable influence on generations born to photography in the 1980’s. Marcel Imsand is a two-time winner of the Federal Scholarship for Applied Arts (1970 and 1971), as well as a number of other national honors. Most recently, in 2011, he was made a “Knight of the Arts and Letters” by the French government during a ceremony at the Musée de l'Elysée in Lausanne.
Born in 1929, Imsand Marcel is a self-taught man of one sole passion, photography. By the 1960s, his talent and tenacity allowed him to make a life of this passion. He quickly became an important figure in the field, and early on in his career was nominated to manage the photography in a twelve volume Illustrated Encyclopedia of Vaud (1970-1987), which has since become a significant reference series, unique throughout Switzerland. During this time his work in the realm of documentary photography became very lively. He photographed Switzerland’s many festivals and carnivals (notably he was named the official photographer of the 1977 Fête des Vignerons in Vevey), the areas outside Switzerland’s major cities (Venoge, Echallens, etc...), and the life and death of popular folk traditions (on this topic he published an important book entitled, "The Trades that are Disappearing"). The activity of Marcel Imsand is not confined, as only a witness to popular arts and traditions; he was not afraid to confront other challenges such as the realities of the industry (Câbleries Cossonay). The photographer also distinguishes himself with exceptional publications on the city of Lausanne (one of his first books) and entertainment, such as events at the Great Theatre of Geneva. In addition to these documentary pursuits his works also demonstrate a great sensitivity through portraiture, as evidenced by his work with the celebrities Maurice Bejart and singer Barbara. Over his exceptional career, Marcel Imsand has brought to us over twenty books with diverse subject matter, many of which were written and produced in collaboration with a number of esteemed authors.
With support from the State of Vaud, the city of Lausanne, La Loterie Romande, and the Swiss Confederation through Memoriav, a program to restore Marcel Imsand’s images is being implemented.
Credit : Marcel Imsand, Paul et Clémence, 1982 © Marcel Imsand, Musée de l'Elysée
