About

Félix-Jacques Antoine Moulin (1802–1875) was a French photographer whose work spanned early nude photography and visual documentation of colonial Algeria. In 1849, he opened a photography studio in Paris, specializing in daguerreotypes featuring young models. However, his career faced controversy in 1851 when he was convicted on charges of obscenity, leading to a brief prison sentence.

Undeterred, Moulin continued his photographic pursuits and expanded his work into teaching and equipment sales. In 1856, he undertook an official mission to Algeria, where he captured images of its landscapes, urban scenes, historical sites, and local communities. These photographs were later published in a three-volume set titled L’Algérie photographiée, presented in honor of Napoleon III.

Moulin retired from photography in 1862 and lived out his later years in Paris, where he passed away in 1875. Today, his work is recognized for its historical and artistic significance, with pieces housed in prominent collections, including the Getty Museum.