Picture archive

The picture archive is the Swiss National Museum's specialist photography documentation centre. It currently houses some 400,000 pictures of great academic and documentary value. The visual material contained in the archives is used in national and international academic publications, brochures and catalogues, as well as in exhibitions and periodicals. Around 3,000 new photographs of collection objects are added to the archives every year, and all interior and exterior views of buildings and photographs of all permanent and special exhibitions and of events held by the entire museum group are processed, archived and registered.

Orders for digital images, the creation of prints and enlargements, as well as the loan of ektachromes (large-format slides) may be placed by telephone or in writing. There is a fee for photographic services as well as for reproduction rights. The picture archive may be viewed by appointment. Research may be conducted on the premises.

A choice of pictures is available on our online database: http://webcollection.nationalmuseum.ch

Download photo fees for picture archive

Remark: Please note that pictures marked «for web only» cannot be ordered from the Picture Archive.