A powerful collection of Lucien Clergue’s early masterpieces, where the remains and decay of the Camargue are transformed into pure, immortal visual compositions.

Charognes is a publication of immense historical and artistic value that gathers the brilliant early works of the great French master Lucien Clergue. Deeply affected by the premature loss of his mother, the artist immediately poured into photography his urgent need to process and understand the tragic dimension of existence. Exploring the wild landscapes of the Camargue, Clergue dedicated himself to documenting the remains and carcasses of abandoned animals. Far from being a morbid obsession with the macabre, this series represents a bold attempt to exorcise and transcend death through the photographic lens. Under his sensitive gaze, decomposition is transformed into pure geometric form, balanced masses, and sculptural structures shaped by a masterful use of light and shadow. The volume documents the historic debut of a visual exploration that deeply impressed even Pablo Picasso during their very first meeting in Arles.

Text in English and French