The great man of the mountain land restoration: Eugène de Gayffier

The history of the mountain land restoration (abbreviated RTM in French) services has been strongly marked by a few men with assertive characters and remarkable talents: Eugène de Gayffier was the driving force behind the use of photography in RTM not only to document the works, but also to argue for the need to carry them out.

A former student of the French National School of Forestry (ENEF), he joins the forestry administration in 1852. After a spell in Algeria, then in the Vosges, he spends a large part of his career at the Ministry, first as head of the Reforestation Office, then in charge of the Works and Reforestation Department. From 1882 onwards, he oversees the Conservations (the name of the bodies in charge of the conservation of forests) of Bar-Le-Duc, Melun and Amiens.

In 1867, he organises the forestry administration's representation at the Paris Exhibition. He exhibits his photographic forest herbarium (200 life-size images of leaves, flowers and fruits of forest plants).

A member of the French Photographic Society since 1866, he is credited with pioneering the use of photography in mountain land restoration.

At the 1878 Paris Exhibition, M. de Gayffier designs the pavilion for the forestry administration. Relief plans and seventy photographs are on display. These objects show major reforestation projects, river engineering and the consolidation and correction of torrents.

Emblematic of the body of images produced by the foresters, these 70 views taken between June and September 1877 include shots of devastated slopes and views of land under construction.

surroundings of Théus (the “capped young ladies” and strip planting, 1877, E. de Gayffier

This album was republished in 1882 with plans and commentary, alongside the second edition of Prosper Demontzey's “Traité du reboisement et du gazonnement des montagnes” (Treatise on reforestation and turfing of mountains).

“Through the choice of plates in this work, the reader can see in a general way the tormented relief of the various regions where major mountain restoration work is being carried out, the denudation and progressive gullying of the slopes where the torrents form, the landslides and rock falls produced by the successive scouring of their banks, the dangers of ruin which they threaten to crops below, hamlets, villages and even towns (...). The indisputable authenticity of these reproductions, as well as the clarity and absolute inalterability of the prints, are not the only merits of the iconography of reforestation.”. E. de Gayffier, " Iconographie du reboisement et du gazonnement des montagnes ", Paris, Berthaud.

 

Surroundings of Saint Pons, Combe St Bernard, black earth (black lands), series of large wattle work and daub and live fascine works, 1877 Eugène de Gayffier

He retires in 1890, after taking part in the 1889 Paris Exhibition, once again setting up the pavilion for the forestry administration.

Pavilion of the forest administration at the 1889 Paris Exhibition. Pavilion designed by Eugène de Gayffier

Bibliography

Association des officiers des eaux et forêts (France). (1910). Nécrologie de Eugène de Gayffier. Revue des eaux et forêts : économie forestière, reboisement... / dir. : S. Frézard, 186‑189.
Lebart, L. (1997). La « restauration » des montagnes. Études photographiques, 3, 3.
Exposition universelle [Texte imprimé], Henri de Parville, 1890
Revue de l'Exposition universelle de 1889 (vol. 1),  F. G. Dumas, Paris 1889

Text written by Pascale Hénaut (INRAE-DipSO)

How to cite : Focus Agate : The great man of the mountain land restoration: Eugène de Gayffier, Pascale Hénaut (INRAE-DipSO), march 2025. https://agate.inrae.fr/agate/en/content/highlights

Illustrations

The banner was made from a photography  taken by Eugène de Gayffier, Torrent de la valette, barrage n°1 et atterissement, 1876. Photography available in  Reboisement et gazonnement des montagnes : photographies de travaux de consolidation et de reboisement.

Torrent de la valette, barrage n°1 et atterissement, 1876

The thumbnail was made from a photography of the pavilion of the Forest Administration, conceived by E. de Gayffier. Photography available in Beaux-Arts et merveilles de l'industrie à la fin du XIXe siècle (Exposition universelle de 1889) : grand ouvrage illustré historique, encyclopédique descriptif. (Book available on the website of the parisian specialised librairies).

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