Théâtre Optique @lacma

Uploaded April 2022 | Updated September 2026, 7 hours ago

Learn about the history and see the operations of the Théâtre Optique (Optical Theater)—an animated moving-picture system, invented by Émile Reynaud in 1892 and reconstructed in the exhibition City of Cinema: Paris 1850–1907. City of Cinema is on view at LACMA February 20–July 10, 2022.
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About LACMA
Located on the Pacific Rim, LACMA is the largest art museum in the western United States, with a collection of nearly 140,000 objects that illuminate 6,000 years of artistic expression across the globe. Committed to showcasing a multitude of art histories, LACMA exhibits and interprets works of art from new and unexpected points of view that are informed by the region’s rich cultural heritage and diverse population. LACMA’s spirit of experimentation is reflected in its work with artists, technologists, and thought leaders as well as in its regional, national, and global partnerships to share collections and programs, create pioneering initiatives, and engage new audiences.

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