Renowned rock photographer Claude Gassian has published a stunning collection of previously unseen photographs of Patti Smith taken during her 1976 visits to Paris, coinciding with a major exhibition showcasing five decades of his work. The book, titled "Patti Smith Horses - Paris 1976," features intimate portraits and candid moments that have remained hidden in Gassian's archives for 49 years.
Of all the rock icons who have passed before his lens, from James Brown to Daft Punk, Madonna to Prince, Serge Gainsbourg to Vanessa Paradis, Patti Smith holds a special place in Gassian's heart. The master of rock photography, who began as a self-taught enthusiast in the mid-1960s with a Kodak camera gifted by his father, was captivated by Smith's groundbreaking debut album "Horses," which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year.
In 1976, Gassian had the opportunity to meet and follow Smith during her various stays in Paris. The resulting photographs, now published by Gallimard with a preface by the singer-musician-poet herself, reveal the essence of these unprecedented sessions. "These are photos never seen before," Gassian explained, describing his surprise at rediscovering images he had forgotten existed in his archives.
The photographs capture Smith in various intimate moments throughout Paris - arriving at Le Bourget Airport in spring 1976, paying respects at Jim Morrison's grave at Père Lachaise Cemetery, performing on stage at the Élysée Montmartre and later at the Pavillon de Paris. The collection also includes backstage moments showing her in great complicity with Nico, posing hilariously in front of Harry Cover record shop, and playing in a sandbox at Place des Vosges with an unknown little girl.
For Gassian, who was primarily a stage photographer in 1976, these wandering sessions with Smith represented a pivotal moment in his career. "Before wanting to photograph her, I discovered the album 'Horses.' An incredible record, totally new at the time," he recalled. "We were in the middle of Eagles, Supertramp era, and suddenly, this electric shock - it was something revolutionary." The freedom of these sessions, without time limits or commercial constraints, taught him to compose and personalize his photographs in ways that would define his signature style.
The photographer revealed that he typically worked with two cameras - one loaded with black and white film, the other with color. "It wasn't like today where we shoot constantly. You had to decide if that moment was better suited for black and white or color," he explained. "But my black and white photos were always better. When I took my black and white camera, the intention wasn't the same. The framing was more precise. It was more demanding."
Running parallel to the book's release, Gassian is exhibiting around 100 photographs at the Rabouan Moussion Gallery in Paris from October 18 to November 22. The exhibition, titled "Elsewhere, Exactly," features a dozen Patti Smith images alongside portraits of other music icons such as Oasis, Justice, Madonna, and Gainsbourg, as well as more personal works including series on highways, electric power lines, and human silhouettes.
The photographer's artistic influences have evolved over time, initially limited to music and album covers before expanding to embrace visual arts. He cites Edward Hopper as an early influence, drawn to "the quality of silence in his compositions, a distance" that may have influenced his own work. He also admires Robert Mangold, father of filmmaker James Mangold, for his geometric forms and pencil work on canvas.
Gassian's archives contain many more treasures waiting to be discovered. "There are quantities of photos still sleeping," he noted, mentioning an "epic" session with Tom Waits among others. "I have enough to keep me busy for the next thirty years!" The photographer's meticulous approach of printing only a few images for immediate use before moving to the next project has left a vast collection of unseen work spanning his illustrious career.
