Jean-François BAURET

Jean-François Bauret was born in Paris in 1932. At the age of fourtheen, he was very impressed by a nude by Man Ray, published by le Minotaure review. He was taught the rudiments of photography by his father. His military service gives him the opportunity to develop his technical expertise. Following this, he enters the profession and rapidly becomes a reputation publicity photographer. 

At the end of the 1960’s, he carries out several advertsing campaigns in black and white which are hailed in the press and on the billboards. This is due to his use of nudes and portraits which are hitherto unexpected in the context of advertising.

In 1971, an important exhibition is organised at the A.R.C., Museum of Modern Art of the City of Paris, with a catalogue. AT the same time, he continues his research in the studio on diverse forms of representing the human body, above all the male body.

In 1975, he publishes a book called Nude portraits of men known and unknown . An exhibition of these nudes is cancelled as the photographs are judged to be too disturbing.

In 1980, the Galerie municipale du Château d’eau de Toulouse presents a retrospective of his work accompanied by a catalogue.

At a time when other photographers are concentrating on specialisation in their work, Jean-François Bauret prefers to apply himself to diversifying his subjects, working in the studio, on location, for fashion and for publishing.

In 1984, Editions Contrejour publish his book Nude portraits , accompanied by a travelling exhibition organised by the Fnac galleries around France.

Work on the body develops toward study of human movement which leads him to present an exhibition on this theme in the festival « Train de Danse » organised by the Ministry of Culture in 1988 and another one the following year entitled Silent Choregraphy  (Fnac galleries).

He passed away in Paris in 2014.