Behind the Photographs
A Blog by Pierre Toutain-Dorbec
When Art Became a Weapon: Pollock, the CIA and the Cultural Cold War
During the Cold War, art became part of a cultural battlefield. The documented CIA program, the international rise of American Abstract Expressionism, and the overlooked story of Ukrainian-born Janet Sobel reveal a fascinating history behind Pollock, Rothko and the image of American artistic freedom.
Family Photography — What Will Remain of Us?
Photographs are more than memories. When printed, identified and carefully preserved, family photographs become a record of who we were—and a gift to generations we will never know.
Maha Kumbh Mela, 1989
Photographer Pierre Toutain-Dorbec revisits his coverage of the 1989 Maha Kumbh Mela in Allahabad, documenting Naga Sadhu life and working in collaboration with the Bombay Leprosy Project.
Domestic Violence Awareness Month
For Domestic Violence Awareness Month, photographer and multidisciplinary artist Pierre Toutain-Dorbec reflects on violence against women, human dignity, and his recent AI-assisted image series.