photographer, artist

Photographer, artist...

We are talking about Henri Cartier-Bresson (August 22,1908-August 3, 2004), French photographer, considered the father of photojournalism. A fourth exhibition (1947, 1968, 1987) of this world-known photographer, one of the founders of the Magnum Agency, is taking place at the MOMA till June 28.

Three hundred photographs were chosen by the curator who divided the impressive collection by themes: Modern times, Encounters and Gatherings, Beauty, Old Worlds, New World, , Portraits, Photo Essay... The visitor could be overhelmed, but the presentation is so well organized that one goes from room to room, eager to look at more photographs and travel in time and space.

Some of them in particular did touch me, they reminded me of a time when the weekly magazine Paris Match was in every household. These were the news, Cartier-Bresson's photographs bringing the other side of the world and they made me dream when I was a child.

The "eye" of the photographer captures scenes from Harlem, the French countryside, Montmartre, scenes from China, historic moments, everyday life, portraits from well known writers, philosophers... The world was waiting for Cartier-Bresson to create the event? Cartier-Bresson was listening to the world, knew how to be at the right place and the right time and click in cadence with the event, anticipating it.

Each photograph is a composition, this may be due to an early training as a painter. Later in life, Cartier-Bresson abandonned photography and went back to painting and drawing..

The magic of the little Leica camera...which appears big today.