French photographer Yann Arthus-Bertrand, best known for his sweeping aerial book The Earth from the Air, has turned his lens downward and inward. His latest project, Vivre Ensemble (Living Together), is a monumental portrait series celebrating the people and communities that make up contemporary France. The exhibition, now on display in Lyon, brings together hundreds of portraits selected from tens of thousands of photographs taken across the country.
Arthus-Bertrand describes the France he encountered as “happy, joyful, proud.” He began the project with demographer Hervé Le Bras, aiming to capture the diversity of professions, social classes, and family structures in a nation undergoing rapid transformation. Over the course of the project, he has photographed around 40,000 people, including nearly 1,500 in Lyon alone during a three-day shoot.
From sky to street level
For decades, Arthus-Bertrand was celebrated for his bird's-eye views of the planet, which revealed the beauty and fragility of Earth. But he says he now prefers photographing faces, drawn to the empathy and connection that arise between photographer and subject. “Looking at the world from above, there are no borders,” he explains. “Just one single planet that we all share.”
At the heart of the exhibition, he says, is “love” — a love for people and for what connects them. The portraits, displayed in large formats, invite viewers to look into the eyes of strangers and recognize shared humanity. The project also reflects a broader European conversation about identity and belonging, as countries like France grapple with demographic shifts and social cohesion.
Arthus-Bertrand's work resonates beyond France. In an era of rising nationalism and polarisation across the continent, his celebration of diversity offers a counterpoint. The exhibition in Lyon is part of a wider cultural moment, as seen in the recent recognition of French Touch music as national heritage, a testament to how cultural expressions shape national identity.
The project also touches on social issues that are pressing across Europe. France has seen protests over fuel prices and police pay, reflecting broader discontent with economic pressures. Arthus-Bertrand's portraits, by contrast, focus on the everyday resilience and dignity of ordinary people. His images of farmers, nurses, teachers, and factory workers stand in stark contrast to the political turmoil often seen in the news.
While the exhibition is a celebration, it also serves as a document of a changing society. Hervé Le Bras, a noted demographer, has provided data that contextualises the portraits, showing how family structures, work patterns, and migration have reshaped the French population. The result is a nuanced portrait of a nation that is both rooted in tradition and open to the world.
Arthus-Bertrand's shift from aerial photography to portraiture may seem surprising, but he sees it as a natural evolution. “From above, you see the planet's unity,” he says. “But to understand it, you need to see the faces.” His new work is a reminder that, despite our differences, we share a single planet and a common future.
The Vivre Ensemble exhibition is a must-see for anyone interested in the human face of contemporary France. It is a powerful testament to the idea that, in a world of increasing division, our connections to one another are what truly matter.
