Désiré Charnay. Photographie. Figure gigantesque à Izamal. 1860. © musée du quai Branly, photo Désiré Charnay

PARIS, FRANCE.- For its first photographic exhibition, the Musée du quai Branly pays tribute to the photographer-explorer, Désiré Charnay. Following his maiden voyage to Mexico (1857-1860), Désiré Charnay sets off for Mexico again, going on expeditions to Madagascar (1863), Java and Australia (1878). These missions gave him the material for his photographic work, which was to mark the archaeology and the photography of his time. (courtesy www.Artdaily.org)

Désiré Charnay, Statue gigantesque à Teotihuacan, traduit par « le lieu où les hommes deviennent des dieux ». Photographie prise entre le 1er et le16 aout 1880. Dégagement en cours de Chalchiuhtlicue, la déesse des eaux; © musée du quai Branly, photo Désiré Charnay.