My grandfather's move to Les Sables d'Olonne made me realize that family memory is essentially based on the visual richness of the shots taken by Henry HARDEL. All of the archived reels have been unpacked and digitized. From the first consultations, I was struck by the precision of his framing and exposures.

En observant attentivement, j’avais déjà compris que mon grand-père était un véritable photographe amateur dès les années 30. J’ai appris que son premier appareil avait été acquis à l’âge de 16 ans l’année du vote des premiers congés payés en France.

Finally, I realize that he kindly preserved the family memory throughout his life thanks to his passion for photography, stamp collecting and railway transport.

My grandfather explored various subjects through his photography, including the first photographs of groups of Parisian friends, the first family vacations in the region, tourist visits including castles and cathedrals, as well as bucolic walks highlighting waterfalls, mountainous and seascapes.