Portraits of wild men

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Smrt (Death), Třebič, Czech Republic (left) and Caretos, Vila Boa de Ousilhão, Portugal (right) Charles Fréger

Tschäggättä from the Lötschental in canton Valais, Switzerland Charles Fréger

Arkouda (Bearr), Monastiraki, Greece (left) und Nevesta, Begnishte, Macedonia (right) Charles Fréger

S'Urtzu e sos Bardianos, Ula Tirso, Sardinia, Italy Charles Fréger

Mascarita, Alsasua, Basque region, Spain (left) and Burryman, Queensferry, Scotland Charles Fréger

Djolomari, Begnishte, Macedonia (left) and Škoromati, Podgrad, Slovenia (right) Charles Fréger

Mechkari, Prilep, Macedonia (left) and Laufr (Jumper) Třebič, Czech Republic (right) Charles Fréger

Goat masquerade, Mănăstira Humorului, Romania Charles Fréger

Tschäggättä from the Lötschental in canton Valais, Switzerland Charles Fréger

Sauvages (Wild men), Le Noirmont, canton Jura, Switzerland Charles Fréger

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Photographer Charles Fréger’s work took him on a journey him to 18 European countries, including Switzerland, in search of the mythological wild man. Fréger, born in 1975, is a leading representative of young French photography.

The transformation of human to beast is a central aspect in pagan rituals that celebrate the turn of the seasons, fertility, life and death. Passed down the centuries, some are still alive today in carnival or Advent traditions. The costumes often represent the devil, billy goats, wild boars or the grim reaper and they make use of masks, horns, bells, fur and bones, as well as straw and pine twigs.