André Gobeli has died

André Gobeli, the celebrated photographer of the Annecy Festival since its very first edition, has died at the age of 99.

It is with great sadness that the Annecy Festival team has learned of the death of one of its most iconic figures, the photographer André Gobeli. He was 99 years old.

Photographer, he took his very first images in 1960 from the outset of the Festival. His photo reportages take on a new dimension from 1965 onwards until his official retirement in 1985. He will nevertheless continue to cover the event until 2011.

With his faithful Leica camera he immortalised 50 years of the Festival and assembled an extraordinary collection that retraces almost the event’s entire history.

In 1982 a collaboration was created between the event’s organisers and André Gobeli, to trace the event’s news and establish a true testimonial to it. Therefore, by virtue of his photography across such an extended period of time, a unique collection spanning 50 years of the Annecy Festival could be composed.

The entire Annecy Festival team expresses its full support to his family and loved ones.

“We have learned with great sadness of André Gobeli’s death, legendary photographer of the Festival.

From the 60s to the beginning of the 2010s, André Gobeli witnessed each development of the event. He leaves us a legacy of thousands of photos, fragments of a life, and fragments of a Festival and a city that he loved dearly.

We extend our sincere condolences to his family and loved ones.”

Dominique Puthod, President of CITIA

Source:Annecy