La Maison sur la Sorgue

Biography

An Independent Photographer in Service of the World’s Heritage

Hans Silvester, former photojournalist for the Rapho agency, embodies the very essence of the independent photographer. With a career spanning over six decades, he is renowned for his deep commitment to preserving endangered heritage and for his advocacy of cultures and nature.

His photographic approach—based on trust and total immersion among his subjects—allows him to capture images of rare authenticity.

Hans Silvester has dedicated himself to universal themes such as ecology, the protection of the planet, and representations of animals, while also giving special attention to the beauty of simple everyday objects.

Among his most iconic works are his photographs of the tribes of southern Ethiopia, particularly the Omo peoples. Taken at a time when their ancestral customs were beginning to disappear under the pressure of modern civilization, these images now stand as invaluable records of vanishing cultures.

Silvester has also explored the beauty and simplicity of the landscapes of Provence and the Camargue, beginning with his first journey there in 1958, adding to his body of work a wide array of photographs that capture the unique light and life of the South of France.

An Internationally Acclaimed Artist

Hans Silvester’s work is featured in major museums around the world and showcased at prestigious festivals such as Visa pour l’Image in Perpignan, Phot’Aubrac, and the Rencontres d’Arles.

In 2022, his talent was officially recognized with the Albert Kahn Prize, an award that highlights the significance of his work as a visual memory.

The year 2024 marked a major milestone in his career, with the presentation of his pétanque series under the “Cultural Olympiad” label at the Rencontres d’Arles, as well as a striking exhibition at the Château de Gordes, where his photographs were displayed in a powerful scenography.

Discover and Collect the Works of Hans Silvester

At Galerie Retour De Voyage, we are honored to regularly showcase Hans Silvester’s photographs, whether through dedicated exhibitions or our permanent photographic collection.

We invite you to explore his original works, which include the celebrated series on the Omo and Bench peoples, as well as lesser-known projects on Japan, pétanque, analog photography in Provence, and cats in Greece.

To discover the full collection of Hans Silvester’s photographs and books, visit our Retour De Voyage e-gallery.

We regularly organize meetings with Hans Silvester, who despite his busy schedule is always available to share his experiences and his vision of the world.

We look forward to welcoming you to our art gallery hotel in L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue for an afternoon, a day or an extended stay.