雅克·享利·拉蒂格（1894-1986）是20世纪最重要的摄影大师之一，他的作品栩栩如生地记录了其个人生活和法国近一个世纪的社会风貌。而其独特的摄影风格影响了后来的许多摄影师。
美丽时代（1896-1914）是法国近代史上一个激动人心的时刻：随着科学发现以及新科技的发明与应用，例如电、电话、铁路、汽车和飞机等，法国一跃进入了现代化。而1900年在巴黎举办的世界博览会则标志着法国在全球新工业领域领先地位的确立和一个摩登时代的开始。
    在如此充满新鲜活力的社会中，一个富裕的中产阶级出现了。他们追寻新的时代精神、向往新的生活方式、渴望更多的高雅娱乐活动，结果促进了大众文化的发展。电影院于1895年在法国诞生，并很快和剧场, 音乐厅以及美术馆变成了大家喜爱驻足的场所。1896年，在法国男爵古伯丁的呼吁倡导下，第一届国际奥林匹克运动会正式恢复在希腊举办。此举激发了大型体育赛事活动在法国的蓬勃发展。而新的户外运动比如滑雪、赛车和网球等成为时髦的娱乐方式走入法国人的生活。所有这些令人目不暇接的变化为法国的设计、时尚、和前卫艺术发展提供了滚滚动力。这是一个优雅和张扬交织的金色年代。
    《法国美丽时代--雅克-亨利·拉蒂格摄影作品展》展示了拉蒂格从1902到1930年间拍摄的近110张精彩作品。这些作品从美丽时代还延伸到所谓的“疯狂年代”（1919-1929），即两次世界大战之间法国兴兴向荣的战后恢复阶段。这样一个时间跨度，使观众一方面可以通过年轻拉蒂格的私生活图像记录近观美丽时代，另一方又可比较完整地解读拉蒂格在20世纪初叶从一个少年脱胎为一个翩翩绅士的历程。一些特别挑选的拉蒂格相集册页和私人日记节选也一同展出。

    Jaques Henri Lartigue is one of the most important photographers in 20 century, his photos vividly documented his life as well as the French society for almost one century. And his unique photographic style have influenced many photographers later.
    La Belle Epoque (1896-1914) was an amazing time: France was leaping into modernity with the arrival of such inventions as the telephone, railways, the automobile, the airplane, and scientific discoveries (like electricity). The Exposition Universelle in 1900 was witness to the beginning of the modern society and to France’s advanced role in this new industrial world.
    These novelties created a new society with the emergence of a prosperous middle class.  People were eager for modernity, new lifestyle and were expecting more cultural events which gave rise to mass culture. The cinema, which was invented in 1895, along with theatre, musical hall and art museums became very popular with the general public.  The International Olympic Games were re-introduced to the world in1896 by a French nobleman,  Baron de Coubertin.  Following that, more and more national sports events were organized.  Outdoor activities such as skiing, car racing and tennis were introduced to French life as new pleasures.  This new spirit nourished design, fashion and the avant-garde art movement. It was a golden time with a remarkable character of elegance and extravagance.
    The exhibition, La Belle Epoque de J.H. Lartigue, presents about 110 photos taken by Lartigue from 1902 to1930. It travels from La Belle Epoque to the period called “Les années folles” (1919-1929), the joyful period of restoration in between the two World Wars in France. The presentation will allow audiences not only to have an insight into the life of an extraordinary family and its modern outlook during the Belle Epoque, but also an understanding of how Lartigue had evolved from a child to an elegant, young Frenchman in the early 20th century.  A few selected pages of Lartigue’s private albums and diary are also presented to accompany his photographs.