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Exhibition: "Michel Butor, ultra-sensitive portrait"

Photo : Daniele Ferroni (photographie) ; Michel Butor (texte). « Si vous saviez ce que j’aperçois derrière vous, vous en ririez autant que moi » : Michel Butor le 15 mai 2011 à la Rocca di San Leo, dans la province de Rimini (Italie). Épreuve signée : 7/8. Collection particulière © Daniele Ferroni / Michel Butor

Nov 13 – Feb 3

Exhibition: "Michel Butor, ultra-sensitive portrait"

From October 19, 2026, to February 3, 2027, the Université Paris Cité and its Museum of the History of Medicine explore the links between science and poetry with the exhibition "Michel Butor, ultra-sensitive portrait," in association with the PhotoSaintGermain festival. Alongside artist's books by Michel Butor and his photographer friends, discover the scientific works that inspired him and marked scientific history.

Université Paris Cité (Paris 6th)

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About

In partnership with the PhotoSaintGermain festival and on the occasion of the celebration of the Michel Butor Centenary as well as the Bicentenary of Photography by the Ministry of Culture, Université Paris Cité and its Museum of the History of Medicine invite you to discover a new facet of this emblematic figure of the Nouveau Roman.

Making the dialogue between the arts the engine of his creation, Michel Butor explored essays, poetry, and also photography from 1951 to 1961, before composing artist's books with his photographer friends. Together with them, he created nearly 1,800 books published in limited editions, either printed or manuscript.

The poet's imagination draws from a sensitive material unique to him as well as his encyclopedic and humanistic erudition which unfolds through arts and sciences. Butor invites us to look at scientific books differently, by detecting the visual and textual poetry inherent in them. This exhibition proposes to put the correspondences back into play, associating Butor's and his photographers' artist's books with scientific works or objects from the Université Paris Cité that were landmarks and remain remarkable. Ancient and rare, they bear witness to a state of research, the birth of disciplines, and a knowledge that evolves over time.

In connection with the exhibition, the exhibition catalog book "Michel Butor, portrait ultrasensible" offers 9 short and original essays, accessible to the general public, embellished with rich, commented illustrations, to discover his literary personality.

General Curator of the exhibition: Agathe Sanjuan (Deputy General Directorate for Libraries and Museums, Université Paris Cité)

Scientific Curators: Elisabeth Collin-Canto (DGDBM, Université Paris Cité) and Nicolas Barbey (DGDBM, Université Paris Cité)

Our take on this event

Discover an intimate side of literary legend Michel Butor, a man who saw the world through the lens of both poetry and early photography. This exhibition highlights his creative collaborations by pairing rare artist books with vintage scientific artifacts from the university's hidden collections. Expect a thought-provoking journey that blurs the lines between art, history, and scientific discovery.

The Université Paris Cité hosts the exhibition "Michel Butor, portrait ultrasensible" until February 3, 2027. This retrospective honors the centenary of Michel Butor and the bicentenary of photography by showcasing his collaborative work with various photographers and his unique approach to artist books. By bridging the gap between literature and scientific heritage, the display reveals the poetic potential within academic artifacts. Located in the 6th arrondissement, the exhibition space is fully accessible to wheelchair users. Entrance is free from November 5 to November 28, 2026, during the PhotoSaintGermain festival, after which standard ticket pricing applies for visitors.

Located at 12 rue de l'Ecole de Médecine, this exhibition highlights Michel Butor’s versatile creativity, specifically his work between 1951 and 1961 when he produced nearly 1,800 artist books with fellow photographers. Curated by Agathe Sanjuan, the project pairs these rare literary works with historical scientific objects from the University’s collections, showcasing how Butor perceived poetry within scientific research. Visitors can explore this dialogue between the arts and sciences in a setting that celebrates both humanistic knowledge and artistic innovation.

The gallery is open on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 14:00 to 17:30, and on Saturdays from 10:00 to 20:00. Please note that the venue will be closed for the winter break from December 19, 2026, to January 3, 2027. Regular ticket prices are 3.50€ for adults and 2.50€ at the reduced rate, with specific conditions available for free entry. Additionally, complimentary access is granted from November 5 to November 28, 2026. A dedicated exhibition catalog featuring nine original essays is also available to enrich the experience.

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