Summer in the shade, 1953 (probably in the Paris suburb)
Here is another serie of anonymous pictures which I found along the previous months on various flea markets in France, mostly in these ubiquitous sidewalk sales known in French as
vide-greniers. When I come across one of these attic sales either in Paris or in the French provinces, I use now and then to forage through boxes of old pictures, it's very interesting both because the photographic quality of many of these small prints but also because of the sharp picture they provide on a gentle way of life and togetherness where simple pleasures were enough to have a good day with friends, colleagues or family.
Patrick Bize who passed away recently told us when we visited him a couple years ago that "
le vin, c'est fait pour être bu à table, avec des gens qu'on aime bien, avec une bonne bouffe", meaning wine is meant to be had with good food and shared with friends and people we like. There's not always food in these anonymous scenes but the rest is there, a good drink with friends and family.
Some of these pictures had some hand-written information on the back, and for the others I relied on my intuition to date the scene (est. meaning estimated year).
Étang de l'ursine one remains me "Le joueur de cartes" de Cézanne...
Thank you for posting these nostalgic photos.
Posted by: Cyril | December 10, 2013 at 10:24 AM
Bertrand ... I always enjoy you photography and stories but this one touched me very much! It's nice to see people across the years coming together and "sharing a glass"!
Gene
Posted by: Gene Tenery | December 11, 2013 at 05:43 PM