Henri Cartier-Bresson Chanteloup, Seine-et-Marne, France, 1908-2004

Biography

After his early fascination with Surrealist painting, in 1932 Cartier-Bresson discovered the Leica –his camera of choice thereafter– and began a life-long passion for photography. In 1933 he had his first photo exhibit at the Julien Levy Gallery in New York. 

In 1947 he founded Magnum Photos, along with Robert Capa, George Rodger and other photographers. His first book Images à la Sauvette (The Decisive Moment) was published in 1952, where he described the camera as the master of the instant which, in visual terms, questions and decides simultaneously. 

In 2003, 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. 

His work has been exhibited at several galleries and museums all over the world: France, Germany, United Kingdom, Mexico, USA, Italy, Japan, Finland, India, Spain, and Switzerland, among others. His photographs belong to several public and private collections.

Cartier-Bresson is recognized as one of the most prominent photographers in history and one of the fathers of photojournalism.

Died in Provence, 2004. 

For more infomation visit the artist website. 

www.henricartierbresson.org

Works