Henri Cartier-Bresson

August 22, 1908-August 3, 2004

An event is so rich in possiblities that you hover around while it develops, you hunt for the solution. Sometimes you find it in the fraction of a second, sometimes it takes hours, or even days. There is no standard solution, no recipe; you must be alert, as in a game of tennis. -Henri Cartier-Bresson

Early Years
Henri Cartier-Bresson was born on August 22, 1908 in Seine-et-Marne France. Eldest of 5 children in a wealthy family Studied painting from his uncle in his early years until his uncles death. Served his manditory time with the French Military as a young man.

Early 1930s
Cartier shared a studio with and partnered up with Robert Capa, and David Seymore creating the Magnum co-operative, which distributed their picture stories to magazines in various countries. Captured during the war and held in a POW camp for 3 years in Wurttemberg, Germany. Escaped and went into hiding in France with false papers Internationally known photographer by the age of 35, but was undecided to pursue photographer or switch to film making.

Dieppe, France 1926

Place de LEurope, Paris, 1932

Alle du Prado, Marseille 1932 I was walking behind this man, and for some reason he stopped and turned.

Coronation of King George VI, Trafalgar Square, London, 1937

The United States

Arrived on May 15, 1946 in New York with his Javanese wife, Ratna. Honored with an exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art, which had been in the works when he was thought dead during the war. Decided to pursue photography after many long talks with Robert Capa, and recognizing his curiosity in the world around him. Put together a book with John Malcolm Brennin that was never published due to drama and ill feelings between the two. Left for Asia in 1947 and traveled all of Africa, Europe, the U.S., Cuba, and Mexico oer the course of 5 or 6 years.

The photographer, the person

Was a bit of a loner Had a passion for literature Composed photographs in the viewfinder, not the darkroom. Exclusively black and white photography Early adopter of 35mm Considered the father of modern photojournalism. Believed in capturing the moment. The Defining Moment Developed street photography Master of candid photography Captured gestures and bearings more than things.

We photographers deal in things which are continually vanishing, and when they have vanished, there is no contrivance on earth which can make them come back again. We cannot develop and print a memory. The writer has time to reflectbut for photographers, what has gone, has gone forever. -Henri Cartier-Bresson

Cape Cod Massachusetts, 1947

Taos, New Mexico 1947

It is through living that we discover ourselves, at the same time as we discover the world around us. Henri Cartier-Bresson, 1952

Cartier-Bresson has been described as having a constant boxing match with time; time is both the opponent and partner. To be punched and knocked down; one dances around an instant of time waiting for an opening to fix, arrest, conquer. -Lincoln Kirstein

1949, Communist party in China had won the Civil War

The Later Years

Divorced his wife of 30 years in 1967 Married Martine Franck in 1970 and daughter Melanie was born in May 1972. Retired from photography in early 1970s Completely left photography and turned to greatest passion of painting by 1975. Passed away August 3, 2004 in Montjustin, France.

Cartier has always been a kind of spirit medium: poetry sometimes speaks through his camera