Fountain – Silver gelatin print by Hans Silvester, 60’s.

This photograph, taken in Italy during the early years of Hans Silvester’s career, belongs to the founding body of work presented in the Silver Silvester collection.

Why this photograph?

This photograph is built on a highly graphic, almost rhythmic composition, characteristic of Hans Silvester’s attentive eye. The image is structured by a long wall fountain seen in perspective. A succession of identical metal spouts pours steady streams of water into a narrow channel running along the wall. The repetition of these jets creates a visual cadence, heightened by the light catching the moving water and making its surface shimmer.

The contrast between architectural rigor-cut stone, perfect alignment of the spouts, receding perspective and the instinctive, living presence of the dogs introduces a gentle tension. Water, the central element, connects these two worlds: human construction and animal need. The atmosphere is calm, almost meditative. No superfluous movement, no unnecessary décor. Everything is reduced to the essentials: repetition, waiting, the simple act of drinking. Silvester captures an ordinary daily scene and draws from it a discreet poetry, grounded in balance, silence, and attention to the living world.

Printed from the artist’s preserved black-and-white negatives, the image was produced using traditional silver gelatin processes. The depth of the blacks, the fineness of the grain, and the balance of contrasts give it a strong material presence, faithful to the photographer’s original intent. This photograph bears witness to Hans Silvester’s attentive and rigorous eye, shaped by a humanist approach.

Each photograph is printed in a strictly limited edition of five copies. The works are stored and handled in accordance with photographic conservation standards, ensuring their long-term stability.

Photograph presented at the exhibition Silver Silvester, Galerie Retour de Voyage, April 2026.

Prints remain available for viewing by appointment after the exhibition. Contact Frédéric : +33 6 87 32 58 68.