French photographers’ lens bring Vietnamese history to Paris

The exhibition features over 50 black-and-white photographs by French photographer Marc Riboud. (Photo: nhandan.vn)

The exhibition features over 50 black-and-white photographs by French photographer Marc Riboud. It is held by Les amis de Marc Riboud (Marc Riboud’s friends association) to commemorate Vietnam’s 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification.

While documenting the war, his photographs maintained a positive perspective. From bustling commerce atop rubble-strewn streets to couples dating beside bomb shelters and the bright faces of Vietnamese children, the works revealed how civilian life, though disrupted and tragic, persisted tenaciously against all adversity.

The highlight of his collection is the world-famous photo of a U.S. anti-war protester holding flowers before armed soldiers outside the Pentagon in Washington, which then became an international symbol for peace.

According to Lorène Durret, who is in charge of the Les amis de Marc Riboud, all works are presented with specific contextual background, providing viewers with profound insights into this critical historical period. She hopes to bring the exhibition to Vietnam, noting this was also Riboud’s wish when he returned to Vietnam for the last time in his 80s.

The highlight of his collection is the world-famous photo of a U.S. anti-war protester holding flowers before armed soldiers outside the Pentagon in Washington, which then became an international symbol for peace. (Photo: nhandan.vn)

Catherine Riboud, the photographer's widow, revealed that Vietnam held a special place in her husband's heart, adding he had great admiration for the Vietnamese people's courage and that was the reason why he returned regularly throughout those 10 years.

Vietnamese Ambassador Dinh Toan Thang praised the exhibition's timing as Vietnam prepares to mark 50 years since the national reunification. He noted that Riboud's photographs not only depict war’s brutality but also capture the heroic Vietnamese people fighting for national independence.

Riboud, who died in 2016 at age 93, took more than 50,000 photographs during his storied career.

Source: VNA