Black and White Silver Gelatin Prints at Galerie Retour de Voyage
From April 1 to 30 April 2026, the Galerie Retour de Voyage presents the exhibition Silver Silvester, dedicated to the black and white silver gelatin prints of Hans Silvester, produced between 1958 and 1976.
A major event for fans of classic photography and photo-reportage, to be discovered in L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue.
A Foundational Body of Work Revealed
Over more than sixty-five years of career, Hans Silvester has built a rich and singular photographic œuvre. While his color work, particularly in Ethiopia, is widely recognized, his early black and white photographs remain less well known.
L’exposition Hans Silvester reveals this founding whole through 27 silver gelatin prints, produced using traditional photographic processes, printed in editions of only five, numbered and signed. These works demonstrate the timeless strength of analog black and white photography : deep blacks, subtle grain, and carefully balanced contrasts.
Photographs Chosen for Their Precision and Integrity
The photographs presented have been selected for what they reveal about the formation of Hans Silvester’s visual language. Created between 1958 and 1976, they belong to a period where the photographer already asserts a demanding and distinctive style, marked by rigorous composition, balanced lines and constant attention to the relationships between human beings and their environment.
Neither anecdotal nor spectacular, these images favor human presence, vernacular architecture, landscapes, and everyday gestures. Black and white, far from being merely a stylistic choice, allows the viewer to focus on what truly matters : light, the material, and the internal rhythm of the image.
Here the signature of Hans Silvester already appears with clarity : the ability to step back behind the subject, to photograph without imposing, within a respectful and sensitive relationship to reality. Each image thus becomes a place of encounter, where documentary photography meets a deeply humanist dimension.
A Visual Language Rooted in the Photojournalism of the 1960
These photographs fully belong to the tradition of photojournalism as it developed in the 1960. During this period, Hans Silvester collaborates with with Rapho, a landmark institution of French humanist photography.
At the time, photojournalism was neither spectacular nor event-driven : It relied instead on long observation, proximity to subjects, and careful attention to ways of life. Silvester travels, pauses, observes, and photographs what he understands. This method gives his images remarkable documentary accuracy, while moving beyond simple information toward a sensitive and universal resonance.
The black and white silver gelatin print reinforces this approach to reality. The precision of framing, layered composition, and balance of visual masses reveal a photography that is constructed, and thoughtful, yet never demonstrative.
An Inaugural Exhibition at Galerie Retour de Voyage
Presented from 1srt of April to 30 April 2026, the Hans Silvester exhibition inaugurates the Photography Atelier of Galerie Retour de Voyage, a new space dedicated to photography.
After the exhibition closes, the works will remain available for viewing by appointment, extending the experience for collectors and discerning photography enthusiasts.
Opening Reception with the Artist
The opening reception will take place in the presence of Hans Silvester, offering a special opportunity to exchange with the photographer about his work and this foundational period of his career.
Thursday 9 April 2026 - from 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm
Practical information
📍 Galerie Retour de Voyage – Photography Atelier – 6 Rose Rose Goudard – L'Isle sur la Sorgue
Hans Silvester Exhibition from April 1 to 30 April 2026
Works available for viewing by appointment, after the exhibition.