The big leap – Silver gelatin print by Hans Silvester, 1968.

This photograph, taken in Mexico 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?

Acapulco, 1968 — the “jump of death,” where young men display their courage by taking every risk to impress the spectators. The rendering of the light reflected on the sea and the sharp outline of the rock from which the body emerges as it plunges into the void give this image a dramatic dimension, heightened by the depth of the silver gelatin print.

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