Background
Henri Cartier—Bresson was born in Chanteloup, France. He was the oldest of five children. His dad was a textile maker who became very wealthy through that business. Bresson was educated in Paris, France. The young Bresson was very interested in literature and art. He was very creative, and throughout his family, people were into different arts.
In his early adult life, he was drawn toward Communism. Art was always his passion though. In 1927, he started a short two year study of painting by a well noted Cubist named André Lhotel. After that he went to Cambridge to be involved even more in art and literature courses. After the army, he went to Africa and became interested in photography there. He had received a gift, a camera that he used to take pictures of the world around him.
When was heading home to France, he purchased his first camera, a 35mm Leica. This camera would later show impressive results and would help define the photographers work. For the rest of his life Cartier would approach photography about the same way as before. He disliked edited photos and believed that edits should be done while the photo is being made. To take photos, he would bring a 50mm lens and, if needed, a 90mm lens.
Later as a photographer, he rose to the top rapidly. By the 1930s, he had shown his work in exhibits in Mexico, New York, and Madrid. Many people came to see his works. He showed how the possibilities of street photography and photojournalism.
He later made friends with a man named Paul Stand. He worked with experimenting on film. Cartier, inspired by Paul, ditched photography and went to France to work on film as a French assistant. Cartier-Bresson worked with this filmmaker, Jean Renoir for three years. He worked on a handful of Renoir’s films including a big piece, La Règle Du Jeu. This is not what he was in terested in though. He wanted to tell stories in the photos he took, about real life.
His life changed a lot in 1940 from the Germans invading France. Cartier-Bresson signed up for the military but was later captured by German forces. He was taken to a war camp for three years. In 1943, after trying to escape the war camp twice Cartier had made it out. He went right back to photography and film work. He created a photo department for the resistance. Towards the end of the war, Cartier-Bresson was commissioned by the U.S to direct a documentary of the return of French prisoners.
Soon after the war ended, Cartier-Bresson traveled to India. He spent considerable time there and photographed Mahatma Gandhi before Gandhi's assassination. Later Cartier-Bresson worked on the effect of Gandhi's death on the country at the time. This subject was a big topic of Life magazine’s photo essays. He worked on solidifying photojournalism as legitimate news. The art he did was far beyond what he did with his camera.
In 1947, he worked with four other men and created Magnum Photos, one of the world's first leading photo agencies. In 1952, Cartier-Bresson published his first book, The Decisive Moment. In this book he had a collection of his work in over a span of two decades. Over the course of his career he had his camera with him all the time. He took photos of tragedy and great achievements. He took many photos ranging from the Spanish Civil War to the Chinese Communist Revolution. His photos had documented George VI’s coronation and Khrushchev’s Russia. He subjects varied from Che Guevara to Marilyn Monroe in black and white, while many magazines ran color images. This included Life plus Harper’s Bazaar,Vogue, and many others.
Later, Henri Cartier-Bresson quit Magnum Photos and turned to drawing and painting. He did not do interviews or usually talk about the past career with being a photographer. He liked to draw sketches and landscapes. In 2003, Cartier plus his family created an organization in France called the Henri Cartier-Bresson Foundation. In later years he received many rewards for the work he did. Lastly and sadly, in August 3,2004, in Province, Cartier died right before he turned 96.
Style
This artist’s work is different from other artists’ work. Henri Cartier-Bresson relied on a black-and-white color scheme, just like lithography. The mood in his photos varied. Some show the people being upset, happy, sad, annoyed, or awkward. He wanted to capture people’s expressions in the moment. His photographs remind me of Vivian Maier’s photographs. They both took street photography, capturing ordinary people in the moment. One photo in particular stood out to me.
It shows how the women were not prepared for being photographed at all and some of them look mad.
Philosophy
From what I read the major idea behind his work was just taking photos of normal life and recording what was going on at the time. I think that Henri Cartier-Bresson wanted to tell a story in his artwork. In the essay I read, Bresson talked about the “decisive moment,”capturing an event where the image represented the event itself. He wanted to be an invisible witness to life around him. Bresson helped found Magnum Photos which advanced his career and photojournalism as a form of artwork. He is best known for images of life while in Europe during the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s. His work has long been honored with museum compilations, which have made his street photography even more well known.
Influences
This photographer, Henri Cartier-Bresson influenced my work by showing me that a great photo could be waiting right there if I wait just a moment longer. I have learned that you must be patient with taking photographs. He influenced me by showing me how to take great street photos. He showed me that you could take photos of anything, in any setting, anywhere. Bresson taught me that you don’t need color to make a good photograph. All you need is light and shadow.
Research Sources
"Henri Cartier-Bresson • Photographer Profile • Magnum Photos.” Magnum Photos,
www.magnumphotos.com/photographer/henri-cartier-bresson/.
“Henri Cartier-Bresson • Portfolio • Magnum Photos.” Magnum Photos, Portfolio.” Magnum Photos, https://pro.magnumphotos.com/CS.aspx?VP3=CMS3&VF=MAGO31_10_VForm&ERID=24KL53ZMYN&POPUPIID=
S5RYDA869L&POPUPPN=33.
Hull, Craig. “25 Most Famous Photographers You Need To Know.” ExpertPhotography, 14 Aug. 2018,
expertphotography.com/most-famous-photographers/.
Scharf, Aaron. “Henri Cartier-Bresson.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 18 Aug. 2018,
www.britannica.com/biography/Henri-Cartier-Bresson.
www.magnumphotos.com/photographer/henri-cartier-bresson/.
“Henri Cartier-Bresson • Portfolio • Magnum Photos.” Magnum Photos, Portfolio.” Magnum Photos, https://pro.magnumphotos.com/CS.aspx?VP3=CMS3&VF=MAGO31_10_VForm&ERID=24KL53ZMYN&POPUPIID=
S5RYDA869L&POPUPPN=33.
Hull, Craig. “25 Most Famous Photographers You Need To Know.” ExpertPhotography, 14 Aug. 2018,
expertphotography.com/most-famous-photographers/.
Scharf, Aaron. “Henri Cartier-Bresson.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 18 Aug. 2018,
www.britannica.com/biography/Henri-Cartier-Bresson.
Photograph Sources
Henri Cartier-Bresson Photograph 1: SPAIN. Valencia Province. Alicante. 1933.
“Henri Cartier-Bresson • Portfolio • Magnum Photos.” Magnum Photos, Portfolio.” Magnum Photos,
https://pro.magnumphotos.com/CS.aspx?VP3=CMS3&VF=MAGO31_10_VForm&ERID=24KL53ZMYN&POPUPIID=
S5RYDA869L&POPUPPN=33.
Henri Cartier-Bresson Photograph 2: USA. New York City. Manhattan. Downtown. 1947.
Henri Cartier-Bresson • Portfolio • Magnum Photos.” Magnum Photos, Portfolio.” Magnum Photos,
https://pro.magnumphotos.com/CS.aspx?VP3=CMS3&VF=MAGO31_10_VForm&ERID=24KL53ZMYN&POPUPIID=
S5RYDA869L&POPUPPN=33.
Henri Cartier-Bresson Photograph 3: FRANCE. Marseille. 1932.
Henri Cartier-Bresson • Portfolio • Magnum Photos.” Magnum Photos, Portfolio.” Magnum Photos,
https://pro.magnumphotos.com/CS.aspx?VP3=CMS3&VF=MAGO31_10_VForm&ERID=24KL53ZMYN&POPUPIID=
S5RYDA869L&POPUPPN=33.
Henri Cartier-Bresson Photograph 4: FRANCE. Sunday on the banks of the River Seine. 1938.
Henri Cartier-Bresson • Portfolio • Magnum Photos.” Magnum Photos, Portfolio.” Magnum Photos,
https://pro.magnumphotos.com/CS.aspx?VP3=CMS3&VF=MAGO31_10_VForm&ERID=24KL53ZMYN&POPUPIID=
S5RYDA869L&POPUPPN=33.
Photograph of Henri Cartier-Bresson. Oden, Lori. “Henri Cartier-Bresson.” International Photography Hall of Fame, International
Photography Hall of Fame and Museum, iphf.org/inductees/henri-cartier-bresson/.
“Henri Cartier-Bresson • Portfolio • Magnum Photos.” Magnum Photos, Portfolio.” Magnum Photos,
https://pro.magnumphotos.com/CS.aspx?VP3=CMS3&VF=MAGO31_10_VForm&ERID=24KL53ZMYN&POPUPIID=
S5RYDA869L&POPUPPN=33.
Henri Cartier-Bresson Photograph 2: USA. New York City. Manhattan. Downtown. 1947.
Henri Cartier-Bresson • Portfolio • Magnum Photos.” Magnum Photos, Portfolio.” Magnum Photos,
https://pro.magnumphotos.com/CS.aspx?VP3=CMS3&VF=MAGO31_10_VForm&ERID=24KL53ZMYN&POPUPIID=
S5RYDA869L&POPUPPN=33.
Henri Cartier-Bresson Photograph 3: FRANCE. Marseille. 1932.
Henri Cartier-Bresson • Portfolio • Magnum Photos.” Magnum Photos, Portfolio.” Magnum Photos,
https://pro.magnumphotos.com/CS.aspx?VP3=CMS3&VF=MAGO31_10_VForm&ERID=24KL53ZMYN&POPUPIID=
S5RYDA869L&POPUPPN=33.
Henri Cartier-Bresson Photograph 4: FRANCE. Sunday on the banks of the River Seine. 1938.
Henri Cartier-Bresson • Portfolio • Magnum Photos.” Magnum Photos, Portfolio.” Magnum Photos,
https://pro.magnumphotos.com/CS.aspx?VP3=CMS3&VF=MAGO31_10_VForm&ERID=24KL53ZMYN&POPUPIID=
S5RYDA869L&POPUPPN=33.
Photograph of Henri Cartier-Bresson. Oden, Lori. “Henri Cartier-Bresson.” International Photography Hall of Fame, International
Photography Hall of Fame and Museum, iphf.org/inductees/henri-cartier-bresson/.