Robert Doisneau at the Museo del Genio in Rome: a photographic portrait of everyday life

Robert Doisneau at the Museo del Genio in Rome: a photographic portrait of everyday life

When: March 5 - July 19, 2026
Where: Museo del Genio, Rome

The Museo del Genio presents a large retrospective dedicated to Robert Doisneau, a leading figure of French humanist photography. The exhibition features more than 140 black-and-white images spanning his career from the 1930s to his mature works.

Curated by the Atelier Robert Doisneau and Gabriele Accornero and produced by Arthemisia, the show is supported by a network of institutional and private partners. The displays highlight Doisneau's talent for turning everyday moments into visual poetry, marked by spontaneity, warmth and gentle irony.

What to expect

• Over 140 photographs including street scenes, intimate portraits and everyday episodes.
• The famous "Le baiser de l’Hôtel de Ville" (1950), an emblematic image of postwar Paris and universal love.
• Iconic portraits of artists and intellectuals and urban vignettes that reveal Doisneau's observational and empathetic eye.

The exhibition ranges from candid street photography to portraits of twentieth-century personalities, always presented with simplicity rather than glorification. It aims to show how photography documents society and preserves fleeting moments.

Why visit

This show is an occasion to rediscover a master who found poetry in everyday gestures and to appreciate photography’s dual role as documentary medium and artistic expression. Coinciding with bicentenary reflections on the origins of photography and within the cultural exchanges between Rome and Paris, the exhibition also reinforces cultural ties between the two capitals.

Practical information and tips

• Check the Museo del Genio opening hours before your visit and plan your trip accordingly.
• The exhibition is the result of collaboration among public and private organizations; institutional partners and sponsors supported the project.
• To avoid queues, consider visiting on weekdays or early in the morning.

The Robert Doisneau exhibition at the Museo del Genio is recommended for photography enthusiasts, students of 20th-century culture and anyone interested in seeing the ordinary transformed into lasting images.