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

This photograph, taken in India 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 by Hans Silvester plays with the interlocking of spaces and times, offering an almost labyrinthine visual richness. The composition is remarkably constructed and unfolds in depth: the painted horseman seems to move toward the doorway, while the real animal echoes him on the other side of the threshold. The represented world (the mural) and the lived world (the animal, the boy) respond to one another without ever merging.

Silvester captures a place where the sacred, everyday life, and the palace coexist. Time appears layered: the time of myths painted on the walls, that of ancient architecture, and that of ordinary life continuing quietly within. The silence emanating from the image is deep, almost palpable, reinforcing this sense of fragile permanence.

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.