Henri Cartier Bresson
Henri Cartier Bresson, (1908-2004) was a French Photographer who's considered as one of the greatest photographers of the 20th Century. Henri Cartier Bresson pioneered a new moment in the art of photography, the art of Photojournalism.
Henri Cartier Bresson was born in France on August 22, 1908. Bresson’s passion for photography began in his early childhood. The first camera he owned was a Kodak Box Brownie that he typically used to take snapshots of his family on holiday, before moving onto using a 3×4 inch view camera. Henri was also surrounded with the arts as a child, although his family business was in the wealthy textile trade, Henri’s uncle, Louis was a painter and a great influence to the young Henri. Louis introduced Henri to oil painting, where his passion for painting grew.
Henri Cartier Bresson’s love of painting saw him at 19 in 1927 go onto study painting at an art college and the Lhote Academy. The teaching at the Academy proved invaluable it helped grow Bresson's interests in the modern approach to art through particularly through examining paintings of the Renaissance era. However Cartier Bresson's time at the academy he grew despondent of the rather vigorous approach and teachings. Later these theoretical teachings became of great importance to Bresson in tackling his own approach to photography.
As the new surrealist movement in art began (in 1924) Bresson was attracted by the way that the surrealists used the subconscious in their work, but Bresson himself could not find an avenue to express through painting, his own developing theories and concepts. Henri destroyed most of his paintings from this time, and it wasn't until some time later Henri soon realised which medium could best express himself with...
Read on to discover what it was that gave Henri Cartier Bresson new inspiration to pick up his camera!
The Kodak Box Brownie
Kodak's Box Brownie was the camera that revolutionised picture taking. Kodak's simple camera enabled everyone to have a go at taking photographs for themselves. Here's where the box brownie camera began...
Robert Frank - The Americans
Robert Frank is one of the most important photographers of the modern era. It was Robert Frank’s book, The Americans published in 1958 that pioneered a new direction in post-war photography and revolutionised photography of the 20th Century.
Henri Cartier Bresson was born in France on August 22, 1908. Bresson’s passion for photography began in his early childhood. The first camera he owned was a Kodak Box Brownie that he typically used to take snapshots of his family on holiday, before moving onto using a 3×4 inch view camera. Henri was also surrounded with the arts as a child, although his family business was in the wealthy textile trade, Henri’s uncle, Louis was a painter and a great influence to the young Henri. Louis introduced Henri to oil painting, where his passion for painting grew.
Henri Cartier Bresson’s love of painting saw him at 19 in 1927 go onto study painting at an art college and the Lhote Academy. The teaching at the Academy proved invaluable it helped grow Bresson's interests in the modern approach to art through particularly through examining paintings of the Renaissance era. However Cartier Bresson's time at the academy he grew despondent of the rather vigorous approach and teachings. Later these theoretical teachings became of great importance to Bresson in tackling his own approach to photography.
As the new surrealist movement in art began (in 1924) Bresson was attracted by the way that the surrealists used the subconscious in their work, but Bresson himself could not find an avenue to express through painting, his own developing theories and concepts. Henri destroyed most of his paintings from this time, and it wasn't until some time later Henri soon realised which medium could best express himself with...
Read on to discover what it was that gave Henri Cartier Bresson new inspiration to pick up his camera!
Further Reading
The Kodak Box Brownie
Kodak's Box Brownie was the camera that revolutionised picture taking. Kodak's simple camera enabled everyone to have a go at taking photographs for themselves. Here's where the box brownie camera began...
Robert Frank - The Americans
Robert Frank is one of the most important photographers of the modern era. It was Robert Frank’s book, The Americans published in 1958 that pioneered a new direction in post-war photography and revolutionised photography of the 20th Century.
Related Articles
Editor's Picks Articles
Top Ten Articles
Previous Features
Site Map
Content copyright © 2023 by Kaye Barnett. All rights reserved.
This content was written by Kaye Barnett. If you wish to use this content in any manner, you need written permission. Contact Ewa Sapinska for details.
