Inside AFP
AFP to auction off 10 NFTs chosen by the public to finance the preservation of its photo archives
AFP is offering a second collection of NFTs from its photographic archives for sale, in association with the Web3 art platform laCollection.io. These digital and unique images were selected by the public during the photo exhibition "Discovering Past Icons" organised by the Agency last autumn.
In autumn 2022, AFP closed its exhibition "Discovering Past Icons" with an auction of the 200 fine art prints displayed and its first NFT collection with three iconic digital editions.
During the two-week exhibition in Paris, visitors also voted for their 10 favourite photographs. These ten images are now available as the second NFT collection.
From 5 April 2023, these images will be offered for auction via the Web3 art platform laCollection.io as unique digital editions. All funds raised will be used for the preservation and restoration of the Agency's photographic collection which, with more than 6 million film documents and 17 million digital photos, represents a true historical, cultural and artistic heritage.
The first three NFTs – the photo of AFP's first dispatch, Serge Gainsbourg burning a 500-franc note on a TV set, and Bernie Sanders' mittens (the source of countless "memes") – brought in 15,000€ out of a total auction of nearly 200,000€.
From the picture of Eiffel Tower workers in the 1930s to Ray Charles and Queen concerts and the burning of Notre Dame, discover the stories behind this second collection.
First part of the NFT AFP auction from April 5, 2023
Hundreds of Donald Trump supporters invade the Capitol in Washington DC on January 6, 2021. Their goal: to prevent Congress from validating Joe Biden's victory in the previous year's presidential election.
Among the crowd, photographer Saul Loeb documented the events from the inside.
A fleeting moment, frozen in black and white. A young Washington Post reporter sits on the steps of the Capitol during her lunch break.
This graphic image from the late 1940s was taken by AFP photographer Eric Schwab, known for his coverage of the liberation of death camps in Germany.
After witnessing the horrors of the Second World War, Eric Schwab flew to the United States to photograph... everyday life. Here, January 1947, New Yorkers wait at a bus stop. In the background, we can see the Woolworth Building, one of the oldest skyscrapers in Manhattan.
Freddie Mercury, leader of legendary rock band Queen, electrified the French audience at the Palais Omnisport de Paris Bercy in September 1984. His influence continues to inspire generations of music fans.
Jean-Paul Belmondo, Bébel, in December 2016, facing the lens of Joël Saget, keeps the cheerful air of the one who used to do his own stunts without a double.
Second part of the NFT AFP auction from April 12, 2023
The iconic Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris engulfed in flames. Geoffroy Van der Hasselt's image captures the moment when the spire, consumed by fire, collapses onto the roof as smoke obscures the Parisian sky.
Read the story told by the AFP journalists who covered this gruesome event
The acrobats: three workers on the Eiffel Tower in Paris in the 1930s, without safety harnesses nor protective equipment. In the background, the Trocadero Palace before it was demolished and replaced by the Chaillot Palace for the 1937 Universal Exhibition.
From Harlem theatres to Broadway jazz clubs, Eric Schwab was close to the world of arts and night. One of the greatest personalities he met was trumpeter Louis Armstrong, whom he often photographed.
The legendary King of Blues, Ray Charles, during a concert at the Palais des Sports in Paris, June 1988.
President Charles de Gaulle during an official visit in San Francisco, April 1960. Greeted by confetti thrown by an enthusiastic crowd, the French politician came to celebrate French American friendship. This image by Sam Schulman captures a festive moment in international relations.