Émile Zola, the celebrated French leader of the Naturalist literary movement, learned photographic technique during a vacation to the coast of France. In 1888, he was given a camera by Victor Billaud, a newspaper editor in Royan. He did not pick up the camera for 6 years, while still working diligently to finish his life's work. After completing the Rougon-Macquart in 1894, a series of 20 novels for which he was nominated for the Nobel Prize, Zola put down the pen and turned his artistic focus to photography.  He had his own darkroom, processed his own film and developed enlargements while keeping careful records of his materials and methods. His records show he produced close to seven thousand plates; Less than 300 have survived.

Although he is most well known for his novels, an open letter written in 1898 to the President of France is now part of his legacy. In 1894, Captain Alfred Dreyfus was wrongly accused of passing information to German enemy troops. Even though evidence emerged that Dreyfus was not involved, he was sentenced to life in prison. Zola was angry it had become common knowledge that Dreyfus was innocent and nothing was being done to change his status. And so, he wrote an open letter to the President of France entitled J’accuse…!, accusing top officials of fixing the trial due to antisemitic leanings and to argue for Dreyfus’ release. The letter was divisive. Many agreed with the government, but there was also a large faction who agreed with Zola. He was quickly charged with libel (defamation), and was brought to trial. Zola was convicted and rather than going to jail fled to England in 1898. He returned to France in the summer of 1899. These photographs were taken upon his return.

It wasn’t until 1906 that Dreyfus was acquitted for the crimes he did not commit, and many believe it was due to Zola’s letter. 

It is an early example of the influence of celebrity in shaping public opinion.