Mourning in Paris: Capturing the shock in photography
Maurice Weiss and Annette Hauschild, two photographers of the renowned agency OSTKREUZ, captured the essence of the initial shock in Paris after the attacks.
Paris under shock
After the November 13 attacks, people gathered to pay tribute to the victims. A quarter of a century earlier, under more peaceful circumstances, seven East German photographers met in a Parisian cafe and came up with the idea of founding their own agency. They had been invited by President Mitterrand to show their works in an exhibition showcasing major East German artists.
The day after
That meeting led to the creation of the agency OSTKREUZ, which became world-renowned. Maurice Weiss, born in France but based in Berlin, and Annette Hauschild were in Paris to open a retrospective exhibition of the agency's work for its 25th anniversary when the attacks occured. They documented the initial state of shock in the population, visible in the streets.
Emotional breakdown
Although many people safely stayed at home trying to gather the news through Friday night, the streets became a showplace of collective emotions on Saturday. This young man burst into tears and found comfort in the arms of a friend. Even an experienced photographer like Maurice Weiss found the moment difficult to watch, saying that it's not always easy to keep an emotional distance.
Speechless
An eerie atmosphere reigned in Paris on Saturday, November 14, the photographers said. Everyone was speechless, staring hopelessly into the distance. Documenting that state of shock was important for the two OSTKREUZ photographers. "In a way, photography is therapeutic," says Weiss.
State of emergency
The whole country was under tension as President Hollande immediately declared a state of emergency. In this photo by Annette Hauschild, the dark silhouettes of two soldiers watch over a deserted Parisian airport.
A multicultural meeting point
Le Carillon was one of the bars attacked by terrorists. Opened in 1975 by an Algerian, it has kept its multicultural feel ever since - the run-down look and low-priced beer making it particularly popular among young Parisians. Friends and regulars showed up the following day to pay homage to the victims. Even this journalist found it difficult to hide her emotions.
Attack on a generation
Friday evening usually means meeting friends in a bar or going out to a cultural event for young Parisians. The attacks changed the meaning of this celebratory ritual for a whole generation. Even though this youth's naivety was killed, at least people have each other to go through the mourning and gradually return to normal life.
Mourning rituals
Capturing the essence of difficult realities is a specialty of the photographers of the OSTKREUZ agency. Two weeks after the events, as the wax of the candles has cooled down and the initial emotions of shock have evolved into another form of sadness, Paris holds an official ceremony to mourn its victims - a symbolic step in a long collective healing process.