Raymond Depardon's landmark series ‘Farmers' Earth’ is set to be exhibited at the 14th edition of Rencontres du Livre et la Photographie.

The son of a peasant, Raymond Depardon often returns to his rural past in his photojournalistic work. Themes of abandonment and nostalgia circulate within his images, relating to his youth spent working as a farm-hand.

The photographer grew up on the Farm Le Garet in Rhone, yet would grow to become one of France’s most distinguished photojournalists. It was only in 1995, with the publication of La Ferme du Garet, he at long last could explore his roots and origins. This subsequently led to a decade-long period, whereby Depardon produced the Profils Paysans trilogy (L’approche in 2000, Le quotidien in 2005 and La vie moderne in 2008). A series of films, that documented with a loving acuity the joys and sorrows of pastoral life in the French Highlands, offering a filmic tribute to those that continue to farm it.

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