Industry was quick to turn to photography to promote its activities. This selection of around twenty works, taken from the library of Lucien Birgé, whose donation of more than 25,000 works is currently in progress, covers the history of this publishing genre from the early 20th century to the present day, on an international scale, mainly in Northern Europe, the historic centre of industrial activity.

From the album commemorating an anniversary to the annual report, this publishing genre, despite its institutional nature, is extremely diverse and creative. It brings together influential figures in photography and graphic design to meet the ambitions of the commission: from promoting traditional values such as work and the social role of industry, through a more didactic approach to explaining the activity and functioning of industry, to renewing and even modernising the image of industry.