Henri Cartier-Bresson
22 August 1908 – 3 August 2004
Street / Photojournalism
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Henri Cartier-Bresson, a French artist and humanist photographer, is renowned for his mastery of candid photography and his pioneering work in the genre of street photography. Born in 1908, he was raised in a bourgeois environment in Paris, where he developed a passion for photography from an early age, experimenting with various cameras and techniques.

Cartier-Bresson’s artistic journey began with painting, influenced by his uncle Louis and his studies at the Lhote Academy in Paris. However, it was a chance encounter with a photograph by Martin Munkacsi that inspired him to shift his focus to photography, realizing its power to capture the essence of a moment.

Equipped with a Leica camera, Cartier-Bresson embarked on a journey to document life as it unfolded around him. He believed in the concept of the “decisive moment,” capturing fleeting moments of everyday life with precision and spontaneity. His photographs often portrayed ordinary scenes imbued with extraordinary depth and emotion.

Throughout his career, Cartier-Bresson traveled extensively, capturing significant events and everyday moments alike. From documenting the Spanish Civil War to Gandhi’s funeral in India, he traversed the globe, always seeking to “feel the pulse” of the times.

In 1947, Cartier-Bresson co-founded Magnum Photos, a cooperative picture agency aimed at using photography in the service of humanity. Magnum allowed him to pursue his passion for photojournalism while maintaining artistic freedom.

One of Cartier-Bresson’s most iconic works is his book “The Decisive Moment,” which encapsulates his philosophy on photography. He believed in the importance of intuition and spontaneity, capturing moments that revealed the hidden truths of the world.

Beyond his contributions to photography, Cartier-Bresson was known for his humility and privacy. He shied away from publicity and preferred to let his work speak for itself. In his later years, he turned to drawing and painting, continuing to express his artistic vision through different mediums.

Henri Cartier-Bresson’s legacy endures as one of the most influential figures in the history of photography. His timeless images continue to inspire and captivate audiences, reminding us of the beauty and complexity of the world captured in a single frame.

Bibliography
1947: The Photographs of Henri Cartier-Bresson. Text by Lincoln Kirstein. ISBN not provided.

1952: The Decisive Moment. Texts and photographs by Cartier-Bresson. Cover by Henri Matisse. French edition. ISBN not provided.

1954: Les Danses à Bali. Texts by Antonin Artaud on Balinese theater and commentary by Béryl de Zoete. German edition. ISBN not provided.

1955: The Europeans. Text and photographs by Cartier-Bresson. Cover by Joan Miró. French edition. ISBN not provided.

1955: People of Moscow. French, German, and Italian editions. ISBN not provided.

1956: China in Transition. French, German, and Italian editions. ISBN not provided.

1958: Henri Cartier-Bresson: Fotografie. Text by Anna Farova. ISBN not provided.

1963: Photographs by Henri Cartier-Bresson. French, English, Japanese, and Swiss editions. ISBN not provided.

1964: China. Text by Barbara Miller. French edition. ISBN not provided.

1966: Henri Cartier-Bresson and the Artless Art. Text by Jean-Pierre Montier. Translated from the French L’Art sans art d’Henri Cartier-Bresson by Ruth Taylor. ISBN not provided.

1968: The World of HCB. French, German, and Swiss editions. ISBN 978-0670786640

1969: Man and Machine. French, German, Italian, and Spanish editions. ISBN not provided.

1970: France. Text by François Nourissier. French and German editions. ISBN not provided.

1972: The Face of Asia. Introduction by Robert Shaplen. French edition. ISBN not provided.

1973: About Russia. French, German, and Swiss editions. ISBN not provided.

1976: Henri Cartier-Bresson. French, German, Italian, Japanese, and Italian editions. ISBN not provided.

1979: Henri Cartier-Bresson Photographer. Text by Yves Bonnefoy. French, English, German, Japanese, and Italian editions. ISBN 978-0821207567

1983: Henri Cartier-Bresson. Ritratti = Henri Cartier-Bresson. Portraits. Texts by André Pieyre de Mandiargues and Ferdinando Scianna, “I Grandi Fotografi”. English and Spanish editions. ISBN not provided.

1985: Henri Cartier-Bresson en Inde. Introduction by Satyajit Ray, photographs and notes by Cartier-Bresson. Text by Yves Véquaud. English edition. ISBN not provided.

1985: Photoportraits. Texts by André Pieyre de Mandiargues. French and German editions. ISBN not provided.

1987: Henri Cartier-Bresson. The Early Work. French edition. ISBN 978-0870702624

1987: Henri Cartier-Bresson in India. French edition. ISBN not provided.

1989: L’Autre Chine. Introduction by Robert Guillain. ISBN not provided.

1989: Line by Line. French and German editions. ISBN not provided.

1991: America in Passing. French, English, German, Italian, Portuguese, and Danish editions. ISBN not provided.

1991: Alberto Giacometti photographié par Henri Cartier-Bresson. ISBN not provided.

1994: A propos de Paris. French, German, and Japanese editions. ISBN 978-0821220641

1994: Double regard. French and English editions. ISBN not provided.

1994: Mexican Notebooks 1934–1964. French, Italian, and German editions. ISBN not provided.

1994: L’Art sans art. English, German, and Italian editions. ISBN not provided.

1996: L’Imaginaire d’après nature. German and English editions. ISBN not provided.
Periods
Early Influences and Surrealist Period
late 1920s to the early 1930s
Influenced by his upbringing in a bourgeois Parisian household and his artistic training in painting, Cartier-Bresson initially experimented with painting and was influenced by the Surrealist movement. During this period, he socialized with Surrealist artists and explored the use of the subconscious in art.

Introduction to Photography
late 1920s to early 1930s

Cartier-Bresson’s introduction to photography came in the late 1920s when he received his first camera from an American friend, Harry Crosby. This marked the beginning of his journey into photography and his exploration of the medium’s potential.

Travel and Exploration
early 1930s

After experiencing personal challenges and heartbreak, Cartier-Bresson embarked on a journey to Africa, particularly the Côte d’Ivoire, where he immersed himself in the local culture and survived by hunting and selling game. This period of adventure and exploration greatly influenced his later photographic style.

Photojournalism and Magnum Photos
late 1930s to the 1950s

Cartier-Bresson’s involvement in photojournalism began in the late 1930s and continued throughout his career. He covered significant events such as the Spanish Civil War, the liberation of Paris, and Gandhi’s funeral. In 1947, he co-founded Magnum Photos, a cooperative agency aimed at providing photographers with artistic freedom while covering global events.

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