For their 21e The theme of the Rendez-vous de l'histoire, to be held in Blois from October 10 to 14, will be “The power of images”. As every year, the Ministry of Culture will participate in this national event which presents itself as a privileged opportunity to highlight the network of Archives, its fundamental contribution to historical research and the richness of its cultural and educational activities, as well as the scientific activities of the National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research.
The Archives of France in Blois
The conference programme is particularly rich this year with a large number of interventions, round tables and film screenings, which will bring together archivists, researchers and image professionals. These interventions will allow the public to discover the multiple iconographic documents preserved by the public archives: drawings, prints, posters, photographs, films – whether they are associated with an artistic, political, commercial function, activist, memorial, prevention or decision support. Will be evoked notably the iconographic arsenal of Napoleon Ier as an instrument to shape the Empire, Provence seen by the eye of a photographer, just like the images deposited at the scene of the 2015 attacks.
On October 12, a day of study entitled «Governing and fighting by the image», organized by the Archives de France and the National Archives, will pay particular attention to the power of the image in its political and propaganda dimension. From the ornate medieval charters in May 68, to the colonial prisons and the photographic service of the Presidency under the Ve Republic, ten conferences will decipher the medium of the image.
In addition, the Archives de France and the Centre du Commissariat à l'énergie atomique (CEA) in Marcoule will present an exhibition of posters preserved by the Marcoule CEA Archives: "Preventing nuclear risks: the power of the poster". This exhibition on panels will illustrate the growing concern for prevention as well as the creativity of a renowned graphic designer, Jacques Castan, in the 1960s.
National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research
Jean-Paul Demoule, Dominique Garcia (President of Inrap) and Alain Schnapp will talk about the history of civilizations or how archaeology is changing our knowledge. A second round table will echo the theme of these Rendez-vous by addressing the contribution of the 3D image to archaeology. The Chauvet cave will also be in the spotlight in a round table entitled «Aux origines de l'image: de la grotte Chauvet au street art» with Carole Fritz (CNRS, scientific director of the Chauvet Pont-d'Arc cave) and Marc Jarry (Inrap)
Salon du livre des Rendez-vous de l'histoire
Recent publications from the Archives network, as well as many books related to the theme of the year, will be on display at the Archives de France booth at the Salon du livre (no. 207). Slideshows will present the wealth of funds of several institutions around the theme of the image. The Archives de France is a privileged guest of the Médiathèque de l'architecture et du patrimoine (MAP), which will present its recent publications. Leaflets will make it possible to know the heritage trades and the sectors to access them.
For the 8e Year in a row, the National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research will present at the Book Fair a wide range of works on archaeology (youth, general public and specialists) accompanied by signings by the authors. As part of the educational meetings organized during these Rendez-vous de l'histoire, the Inrap will propose the game "photo-excavations" a college class at the Departmental Council of the city and a conference at the Higher School of Teaching and Education in the presence of archaeologists and historians. Finally, a meeting with the co-directors of the book A history of civilizations » (co-edition Inrap and La Découverte) will be held on Friday 12 October.
Complete programme of interventions of the Archives de France network https://francearchives.fr/fr/actualite/94529566
National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research Program: https://www.inrap.fr/l-inrap-aux-21es-rendez-vous-de-l-histoire-de-blois-13773