Black and white. That's how it all started. And paradoxically, that's also how it continues, timelessly. Through its aesthetic and plastic strength, black and white embodies the essence of photography. To discover it, the Grand Palais has joined forces with the BNF to present 300 prints emblematic of the history of 20th century photography. Nadar, Willy Ronis, Robert Doisneau, Helmut Newton, Diane Arbus, Robert Franck, William Klein, Brassaï and Cartier Bresson are on show and tell the story of the aesthetics of this committed and powerful technique. The first form of expression of artists, then conditioned by the process, it remains today of capital importance in the work of photographers, who see it as an opportunity to renew old aesthetics and formats. Privileged to give richness to the nuances or to fall into radicalism, black and white leaves nothing to chance. It allows the purest expression of forms, motivates the assertion of a difficult technique, focuses the viewer's attention on the subject. It fixes the gaze and there is no doubt that you, by visiting this exhibition, will not be able to detach yours.