This photograph set off my alarms at once. Not to the degree of a contemporary First World mother, of course, though enough for me to notice. Whenever I took Yoko—my dog—for a walk, I watched to make sure she never put anything in her mouth. Nothing. So I share, in moderation, the collective hysteria that has turned hygiene into a cult of asepsis.

Among the most rewarding things about running an art gallery is the chance to meet extraordinary artists. In the past two months, for instance, I encountered for the first time the work of two important American photographers who share a great deal, Matt Herron and Jim Marshall.

On June 21st we discussed a beautiful photograph, winner of the Grand Prize in the 2026 edition of the Environmental Photography Award, organized by the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation. Every time one of these images triumphs, I ask myself which ones fell short. Which failed to stand out, which came so close to unseating it. Here are the ones that came closest.