Henri Cartier-Bresson became known for “the decisive moment,” an instantaneous composition of a scene, for which the photographer must act quickly and intuitively. As a photojournalist for Magnum Photos, the agency he founded with his colleagues Robert Capa and David “Chim” Seymour, he traveled across the world, photographing some of the most important events of the 20th century. Early in his career, he developed a distinct style of photography and made some of his most famous and enduring images.
Date
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Verso, top right in black ink "45"
Signed center in black ink "Henri Cartier Bresson"
Stamp "Julien Levy Gallery, 602 Madison Avenue, New York City"
Bottom, left in pencil "343.1977"
Dimensions
19.6 × 29.3 cm (7 3/4 × 11 9/16 in.)
Credit Line
Julien Levy Collection, Gift of Jean and Julien Levy
Reference Number
1978.1053
Extended information about this artwork
Galassi, Peter. 1987. “Henri Cartier-Bresson: The Early Work.” Museum of Modern Art/New York Graphic Society. p. 83.
Sire, Agnes and William Ewing. 2004. “Documentary and Anti-Graphic Photographs; Manuel Alvarez Bravo, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Walker Evans.” Steidl. p. 113
Travis, David. 2005, “Paris: Photographs from a Time that Was.” Exh. cat. Art Institute of Chicago/Yale University Press. p. 65.
Cheroux, Clement. 2013. “Henri Cartier-Bresson.” Exh. cat. Centre national d’Art et de Culture Georges Pompidou. p.98, cat. 70.
New York, New York, Museum of Modern Art, “Henri Cartier-Bresson: The Early Work,” September 9–November 29, 1987; traveled to Detroit Institute of Arts, December 15, 1987–February 29, 1988; Art Institute of Chicago, March–April 1988, San Diego, California, Museum of Photographic Arts, May 10–June 26, 1988.
Paris, France, Henri Cartier-Bresson Foundation, “Documentary and Anti-Graphic Photography: Henri Cartier-Bresson, Walker Evans and Manuel Alvarez-Bravo,” September 7–December 22, 2004; traveled to Switzerland, Musee de L’Elysee, February 10–April 10, 2005.
Art Institute of Chicago, “Paris: Photographs from a Time that Was,” August 13–November 6, 2005. (David Travis)
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