The Photography Museum is revisiting the beginnings of photography in Madagascar with an exhibition dedicated to the first images captured on the island.
Starting October 3, the Museum of Photography of Madagascar in Anjohy will present “Origins. Beginnings of photography in Madagascar,” focusing on the period from 1853 to 1890. The exhibition offers new perspectives on early photographic archives, questioning not only what the images reveal but also what they leave unsaid.
It highlights the initial reactions of the Malagasy people to this new technology, ranging from misunderstanding and distrust to enthusiasm. The exhibition also notes that in 1826, the portrait of Radama I on canvas was completed, the same year Nicéphore Niépce produced what is considered the first photograph in history in France.
Following the restriction of foreign access to Madagascar in 1828, the island remained a focal point of European interest. Evangelists, traders, and explorers sought to approach the kingdom and its court. It was within this context that photography entered Madagascar in 1853, carrying diplomatic, political, religious, and economic implications.
“Origins” will succeed “Exiled,” which was dedicated to the Malagasy princesses forced into exile during the French conquest, including Ranavalona III, the last queen of Madagascar. With this new exhibition, the Museum continues its work of promoting photographic archives and transmitting the country’s history.
Captured & Published at: 2026-09-14 06:39:07 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://www.lexpress.mg/2026/09/exposition-le-musee-de-la-photographie.html