[Partie de boules] - Hans Silvester, silver gelatin print

Marseille, 1976 – Silver gelatin print

This photograph, taken while Hans Silvester was following pétanque players in 1976, belongs to the founding body of work presented in the “Silver Silvester” collection.

A heritage photograph:

Taken by the sea near Parc Borély in Marseille, the image shares the popular enthusiasm surrounding the game of “la longue” and its social role of bringing people together around a game and a competition.

It is also a testimony to the 1970s, visible in the cars and in the city itself, which was beginning to transform. That era has since disappeared: pétanque grounds were replaced by concrete or asphalt to create parking areas. In the years to come, they may once again be transformed into green spaces.

Produced from the artist’s original black-and-white negatives, the photograph has been printed using traditional silver gelatin processes. The depth of the blacks, the delicacy of the grain, and the balance of contrasts give the print a strong material presence, faithful to the photographer’s original intention. The image reflects Hans Silvester’s attentive and rigorous gaze, shaped by a deeply humanist approach.

Each photograph is issued in a strictly limited edition of five prints. The works are preserved and handled according to professional photographic conservation standards, ensuring their long-term stability.

Photograph presented during 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.