Jean-Marie Périer, iconic photographer of the 1960s and 1970s and a key figure in the magazine “Salut les copains,” was at the heart of a generation of artists who left their mark on those decades. Through his iconic photographs, he shaped the image of many stars, including Johnny Hallyday, Sylvie Vartan, and Françoise Hardy, with whom he had close ties. As a former partner of Sylvie Vartan, he also closely interacted with Johnny Hallyday and his circle. It was within this circle that he saw Nathalie Baye, the singer’s partner in the 1980s, evolve.
He was the author of the “Photo of the Century,” an iconic picture taken in 1966 for the magazine “Salut les copains,” featuring numerous music stars of the yé-yé scene. Captured on April 12 of the same year, this photograph was published in June as the central poster of the special issue number 47, on the occasion of the magazine’s fourth anniversary.
“Et maintenant Nathalie Baye”
On Instagram, Jean-Marie Périer accompanied his tribute with an archival photograph uniting Johnny Hallyday, Sylvie Vartan, and Françoise Hardy. A powerful image symbolizing a whole generation, one he himself contributed to shaping through his iconic photographs published in the press of the time. These faces, now iconic, that he spent time with and immortalized, still embody the spirit of those years today.
In the caption, the photographer let his emotions speak regarding Nathalie Baye’s passing: “Johnny, Sylvie and Françoise… And now Nathalie Baye who is leaving, I feel like watching snowflakes falling.”
“Une histoire au cœur de cette génération”
“Fortunately, Sylvie remains,” he wrote at the end of his message, as if clinging to those who remain from that era. Jean-Marie Périer is equally touched because of the personal history he shared with Françoise Hardy. Their relationship, which marked the 1960s, placed him in the intimacy of that group of artists. He continued to socialize with this close circle, where Nathalie Baye was also part of in the 1980s.
Furthermore, despite their separation, Françoise Hardy and Jean-Marie Périer remained very close. Over the years, the singer regularly showed him her support, especially during his exhibition openings or when he was decorated by the Ministry of Culture in 2006.
