Procession of the White Penitents

This rare photograph captures a unique scene: the brotherhood of the White Penitents during a procession. Formed in the 17th century, most of these brotherhoods disappeared before the era of photography. The brotherhood of Villar-d'Arène, represented here, is the one that survived the longest in the region. At the early 20th century, it still had ten members devoted to charitable actions.