Henri bresson famous photography

Biography

Henri Cartier-Bresson has intuitively chronicled decisive moments of human life around the world with poetic documentary style. His photographs impart spontaneous instances with meaning, mystery, and humor in terms of precise visual organization, and his work, although tremendously difficult to imitate, has influenced many other photographers. His photographs may be summed up through a phrase of his own: "the decisive moment," the magical instant when the world falls into apparent order and meaning, and may be apprehended by a gifted photographer.
Cartier-Bresson was born in Chanteloup, and studied literature at Cambridge University in He began photographing in and purchased a Leica in He joined an ethnographic expedition to Mexico the next year, and in studied cinematography with Paul Strand. He assisted Jean Renoir in and , and made his own documentary, Return to Life, in He was drafted into the film and photo unit of the French army in and was taken prisoner by the Germans that same year. After three years of imprisonment he escaped and began working for the French underground. In he made series of portraits of artists, including Matisse, Bonnard, and Braque. Through and , Cartier-Bresson photographed the occupation of France and its liberation. In he co-founded the Magnum agency with Robert Capa, Chim (David Seymour), and George Rodger and he spent the next twenty years traveling around the world. He received the Overseas Press Club Award four times; the American Society of Magazine Photographers award in ; and the Prix de la Société Française de Photographie in , among other honors. In he left Magnum, which remained his agent, and devoted himself to drawing. Cartier-Bresson's extensive publications include From One China to Another (), The Europeans and People of Moscow (), The Face of Asia (), and The Decisive Moment ().
 
Lisa Soccio
Handy et al. Reflections in a Glass Eye: Works from the International Center of Photography Collection,

Henri Cartier-Bresson, often hailed as the father of modern photojournalism, is renowned for his ability to capture fleeting moments with a unique blend of artistry and precision. His photographs not only document history but also evoke emotion and tell stories in a single frame. Over his illustrious career, Cartier-Bresson created a legacy of iconic images that have left an indelible mark on the world of photography.

In this article, we explore ten of his most famous photographs, examining the moments behind them and the reasons why they continue to captivate audiences worldwide.

You can find Henri Cartier-Bresson on the Web:

1. Behind the Gare Saint-Lazare ()

This photograph, often referred to as the quintessential example of Cartier-Bresson&#;s "decisive moment," captures a man leaping across a puddle behind the Gare Saint-Lazare in Paris. The reflection, the perfect timing, and the dynamic composition make this image an iconic representation of his philosophy that great photography captures fleeting moments of balance and harmony.

2. Rue Mouffetard ()

In this charming image, a young boy proudly carries two large bottles of wine down a Paris street, his grin infectious. The photo’s timeless appeal lies in its candidness and universality, symbolizing the simple joys of childhood and the culture of post-war France.

3. Gestapo Informer at Dessau ()

This photograph, taken during Cartier-Bresson’s work documenting the aftermath of World War II, shows a woman accused of being a Gestapo informant confronted by a camp survivor. The raw emotions on display, combined with its historical significance, make it a powerful and enduring image.

4. Hyères ()

Featuring a cyclist captured in mid-motion on a spiral staircase in the French town of Hyères, this photograph showcases Cartier-Bresson’s mastery of geometry and composition. The interplay of curves and lines creates a sense of movement and elegance, turning an e

Henri Cartier-Bresson was one of the most important and influential photographers in the history of art. Cartier-Bresson’s works present an intersection of artistic skill and journalistic documentation. His works reflect on the most tragic and significant moments of the twentieth century. The artist’s photographs can also help us learn more about the recent past. Here are 7 iconic images made by the great Henri Cartier-Bresson that you need to see!

1. Henri Cartier-Bresson’s Gestapo Informer Recognized by a Woman…

Henri Cartier-Bresson was a true legend of photography, in both artistic and documentary sense. Unlike many of his colleagues, he never faked his images but simply observed things happening without intervening. His work during and after World War II was far from simply being impartial documentation of war crimes. It also functions as a deep study of characters and traumas. Cartier-Bresson’s main instrument was his artistic gaze. He wrote that good photographers had to train themselves to look all the time, even unconsciously.

One of the most famous images of World War II was captured by Cartier-Bresson in in Dessau, Germany. In a crowd of displaced persons waiting for repatriation, a woman recognizes a Gestapo informer. The collaborator tried to hide in the crowd but was noticed and brought forward. Originally, this scene was captured as a part of Cartier-Bresson’s film Le Retour, a documentary of the repatriation of French war prisoners. The photographer himself spent three years in a German work camp, escaping in and joining the French underground forces. However, the scene of the collaborator’s exposure was removed from the film and remained only in Cartier-Bresson’s photographs.

2. Alberto Giacometti, Maeght Gallery, Paris

Born in Chanteloup, Seine-et-Marne, in , Henri Cartier-Bresson developed a strong fascination with painting early on, particularly with Surrealism. In , after spending a year in the Ivory Coast, he discovered the Leica, his camera of choice thereafter, and began a lifelong passion for photography. He had his first exhibition at the Julien Levy Gallery in New York in He later made films with Jean Renoir.

Taken prisoner of war in , he escaped on his third attempt in and subsequently joined an underground organization to assist prisoners and escapees. In , he photographed the Liberation of Paris with a group of professional journalists, then filmed the documentary Le Retour (The Return).

In , with Robert Capa, George Rodger, David “Chim” Seymour, and William Vandivert, he founded Magnum Photos. After three years spent traveling in the East, he returned to Europe in , where he published his first book, Images à la Sauvette (published in English as The Decisive Moment).

He explained his approach to photography in these terms, “for me the camera is a sketch book, an instrument of intuition and spontaneity, the master of the instant which, in visual terms, questions and decides simultaneously&#; It is by economy of means that one arrives at simplicity of expression.”

From , he began to curtail his photographic activities, preferring to concentrate on drawing and painting. In , with his wife and daughter, he created the Fondation Henri Cartier-Bresson in Paris for the preservation of his work. Cartier-Bresson received an extraordinary number of prizes, awards, and honorary doctorates. He died at his home in Provence on August 3, , a few weeks short of his 96th birthday.