Henri Cartier-Bresson

Date of Birth: August 22, 1908

Zodiac Sign: Leo

Date of Death: August 3, 2004

Biography

Henri Cartier-Bresson was a French photographer born on August 22, 1908, in Chanteloup-en-Brie, France. He is often considered the father of modern photojournalism. Cartier-Bresson was a master of candid photography and an early adopter of the 35 mm format. His work has profoundly influenced the field of photography and photojournalism, emphasizing the notion of capturing the “decisive moment”—a concept he famously coined. Throughout his career, he traveled extensively, documenting a diverse range of subjects from the Spanish Civil War to the Chinese Revolution. In 1947, he co-founded Magnum Photos, a cooperative picture agency that allowed photographers to retain control of their work. Cartier-Bresson’s photographs are characterized by their impeccable composition, often highlighting human moments and social conditions with a sense of immediacy and intimacy. He passed away on August 3, 2004, in Montjustin, France.

5 Interesting Facts about Henri Cartier-Bresson

1. Henri Cartier-Bresson initially studied painting before turning to photography.

2. He was imprisoned by the Germans during World War II and escaped on his third attempt.

3. Cartier-Bresson captured some of the most iconic images of Mahatma Gandhi’s last moments and his funeral in 1948.

4. He was one of the first Western photographers to be granted access to the Soviet Union after the death of Joseph Stalin.

5. Cartier-Bresson published several influential books, including “The Decisive Moment” (1952), which is considered a landmark in the history of photography.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Henri Cartier-Bresson

1. “To photograph: it is to put on the same line of sight the head, the eye and the heart.”

2. “Your first 10,000 photographs are your worst.”

3. “The photograph itself doesn’t interest me. I want only to capture a minute part of reality.”

4. “Photography is, for me, a spontaneous impulse coming from an ever-attentive eye which captures the moment and its eternity.”

5. “In photography, the smallest thing can be a great subject. The little human detail can become a Leitmotiv.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Henri Cartier-Bresson’s highest net worth is not publicly documented, but his estate and works have been highly valued in the art and photography market.