Hugues Vassal, co-founder of Gamma agency, exposes 24 exclusive images of the life of Edith Piaf at New York University’s La Maison Francaise until May 15th, 2011.

There was a large turnout this Friday evening at La Maison Française at New York University for the opening of the exhibition by Hugues Vassal devoted to Edith Piaf. 24 exclusive photographes taken between May 1955 until her passing in October 1963.

Hugues Vassal met Edith Piaf in November 1957 as a young photographer during an assignment to take some portraits of the singer. Of this encounter was born a friendship, and during the six years that followed, Hugues Vassal was able to share in Edith Piaf’s life. She took him under her wing, like many other singers, musicians and artists of many genres did. “At Edith’s home, there was always room at the table for everyone, even for the scroungers” remembers Hugues Vassal.

The images are simple, unaffected, without a desire for effect. Photographs that show the singer in her intimacy, at home surrounded by friends, during rehearsals, on stage. “She was for me a true friend. A true friendship without any ulterior motives, and this is how I was able to photograph her in her room, with the men in her life.”

Piaf is seen without make-up, her hands distorted, exhausted coming off stage… At the opening, next to Eliane Laffont and Jean-Pierre Laffont (Gamma-Sygma), and Robert Pledge (Contact Press), Kathleen Grosset (Rapho) notes that Hugues Vassal “is able to bring out in his photographs the strength of emotion that Edith Piaf radiated. What is incredible is the simplicity of this woman, of a grand intensity in love, friendship and art. In the photos of Vassal, we also see her with Georges Moustaki, Charles Dumont, Michel Rivegauche, Francis Lai, but also with Michèle Morgan, Marguerite Monod and Marlène Dietrich, with whom she had a strong friendship.”

“ The last photos evoke her marriage with Théo Sarapo, the last taken six months before her death, and is especially touching: a small, fragile silhouette reaching her hand out to her husband and turning towards the photographer, as if saying goodbye.”

Hugues Vassal, one of the cofounders of Gamma

Hugues Vassal’s career began in 1953, at the age of 17. He started out as a “teen model” in Paris. This brief experience allows him to discover photography and inspires him to be on the other side of the camera. In 1955, he works for France Dimanche, a newspaper that is nothing like it’s current version today. It was a time when numerous talented writers and photographers were proud to work for this weekly.

He is asked to produce a feature on the singer Edith Piaf, and young man that he was, he felt impressed by her celebrity. Hugues Vassal had no money, and Edith offered him first her hospitality, then her friendship, her trust and her knowledge. “She turned me into a professional,” remembers today the photographer still grateful.

He becomes part of the group of the singer, he listens to her, she confides in him. He would write several works on the artist that are neverending.

After the death of Edith Piaf, Hugues Vassal becomes naturally the photographer of French stars: Charles Aznavour, Maurice Chevalier, Johnny Hallyday, Françoise Hardy, Mireille Matthieu, Sylvie Vartan…

But Hugues Vassal clashes with the difficulties of the job along with his peers. In the 1950s-1960s, the photojournalists were not considered as journalists entirely. Their press cards carry the mention “assimilated with.” Their photo features are not credited or just barely, and their copyrights come down to a sum of numbers written on the back of a pack of cigarettes followed by a few bills exchanged between the hands of the big bosses who take the rights for themselves.

In 1967, Hugues Vassal met Hubert Henrotte, photographer at the daily paper Le Figaro and Léonard de Raemy, photographer on film sets. They create the agency Gamma, joined soon after by Raymond Depardon and Gilles Caron. All of those who knew the beginnings of this celebrated agency know that the company could only get off the ground thanks to the “Vassal hits.” The photos of stars at that time already paid more then the big features in Biafra! So it seems the market did not change as much everyone says.

But Hugues Vassal does not limit himself to show business. In 1970, he became one of the first european journalists to photograph the Cultural Revolution in the People’s Republic of China. For 10 years, he was also the photographer drawn to the Imperial Court of Iran. Next Fall, his exceptional images of Iran during the Shah will be the object of an exhibition at Princeton (USA).

Hugues Vassal is stubborn and speaks easily, today with 50 years in this career, he has just one wish: to convey and share his experience with the young generation.

Michel Puech