The photographic memory of French industry.
The Saint-Gobain Archives preserve Roger Schall's original contact prints documenting the world of glassmaking and one of France's oldest industrial companies during the twentieth century. Complemented by four contemporary silver prints, this remarkable archive records the manufacture of glass across the Group's industrial sites while also including photographs produced for the 1937 International Exposition in Paris. Together, these photographs trace the transformation of raw material into one of the defining materials of modern architecture and design.
From molten glass and monumental glass sheets to the precision of skilled craftsmen, Roger Schall documented every stage of the manufacturing process with an exceptional sense of composition, light and scale. Far beyond their original documentary purpose, these photographs reveal the aesthetic dimension of industrial production and celebrate the men, expertise and innovation behind one of France's most enduring industrial legacies. Preserved within the Saint-Gobain Archives, this collection stands as a remarkable testament to both the history of modern industry and Roger Schall's enduring photographic legacy.
Collection Highlights
- Original contact prints preserved
- 4 contemporary silver prints
- Glassworks & the 1937 International Exposition