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Unseen photos of Raymond Depardon in four bistros of the 10th arrondissement

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The Editor

Raymond Depardon

The famous photographer Raymond Depardon reveals never-before-seen snapshots of Parisian bistros from the sixties and seventies. And here's the good news: it's free to discover at four super cool spots in the 10th arrondissement until January 4th.

Raymond Depardon captured the silent powers of everyday life on all continents. But at the heart of his archives lay a sleeping treasure: a series of Parisian snapshots, taken between 1960 and 1970, dedicated exclusively to the bistros, restaurants, bougnats, and smoky counters that made the capital thrive.


A Raw Dive into Yesterday's Bistros

Unearthed during the transfer of his archives to the Heritage and Photography Media Library, these photos reveal a lost world, one where coffee and cream mingled with a midday drink and where regulars kept the waitresses and the bar's zinc pillars company.

In black and white or color, these images tell the story of the era and the people who lived it: shy customers, strong personalities, everyday folks, and sometimes even a few passing celebrities. They capture the scent of cold tobacco, Formica, and the camaraderie among people—a fragrance that Depardon managed to capture effortlessly.


An exhibition made for the counter, not for the museum

Instead of being confined to the smooth walls of a museum, the exhibition finds its natural habitat: the bistro. It's where it breathes, where it lives. The 10th arrondissement is hosting this photographic journey through four iconic spots: l’Oursin, les Enfants Perdus, le Chardon, and le Petit Chardon.

You can snack on a plate, raise a glass… and, between a couple of stolen conversations, let yourself be surprised by these frozen scenes of life that are incredibly vibrant. It’s the perfect way to discover or rediscover Raymond Depardon in a new light: intimate, urban, humanistic, and deeply Parisian. And the best part? It’s free.

Another reason to step through the door of a café and get swept away by fifty years of history.

Raymond Depardon – Photos of the bistros of Paris from the 60s-70s
L’Oursin – 27, rue Yves-Toudic – 10th
Les Enfants Perdus – 9, rue des Récollets – 10th
Le Petit Chardon – 34, rue du Château-d’Eau – 10th
Le Chardon – 27, rue Bouchardon – 10th
Until January 4, 2026
More info to explore