本書作者 Jean Clair 於 1940 年生於巴黎,為專攻哲學及藝術史的索邦大學文學與科學博士;除了從事寫作、小說創作及藝術史工作多年,他也自 2008 年起成為法蘭西學院的成員。多產的 Clair 已出版無數書籍,並獲得 Fritz Winter 基金會獎助金、建築學院的藝術史獎章、Fondation Cino del Duca 文學獎等殊榮。
“Funeral of George VI, Trafalgar Square, London, United Kingdom” (1952)Credit...Fondation Henri Cartier-Bresson/Magnum Photos
“Les Halles, Paris, France” (1952)Credit...Fondation Henri Cartier-Bresson/Magnum Photos
“‘The Europeans’ is just so important,” said the foundation’s director, Clément Chéroux, who curated the exhibition and put the new publication together. “Not just because of the pictures, which are of course super strong, but because of what the project represents.”
In 1951, he went to rural Italy, then back to his native France, and then to Britain. The following year, he was in London to shoot blank-faced mourners crowded in Trafalgar Square for King George VI’s funeral, before heading to Dublin and rural Ireland. In 1953, he zipped across Greece, Austria and Germany — catching boozy, bleary partygoers at New Year’s celebrations in Hamburg as well as the stark streets of Cologne, where buildings shattered in World War II still loomed eerily over glossy new clothing outlets.
Henri Cartier-Bresson, often referred to as the "father of modern photojournalism," is renowned for his revolutionary approach to capturing fleeting moments of everyday life. Cartier-Bresson’s work and philosophy were deeply intertwined with his beloved Leica M3 camera, which he used extensively throughout his career. The Leica M3, a black paint version, became his instrument of choice, enabling him to work in an unobtrusive manner while capturing spontaneous moments with unparalleled precision. His philosophy, encapsulated in the famous quote, “For me the camera is a sketchbook, an instrument of intuition and spontaneity,” reveals his deep connection to photography as an art form that’s grounded in intuition and the ability to seize the moment—an essence that became the hallmark of his style.
Cartier-Bresson’s ability to capture the “decisive moment,” as he described it, revolutionized photojournalism in the mid-20th century. His Leica M3 allowed him to shoot quickly and discreetly, an essential feature for an artist who was often in the midst of fast-paced, unpredictable environments, from political events to street scenes. Cartier-Bresson’s images, which spanned across Europe, India, and China, captured the complexity of human emotions and the subtle drama of everyday life. The M3’s rangefinder mechanism enabled Cartier-Bresson to focus without the distraction of a large lens, which made it easier for him to remain unnoticed, thereby allowing his subjects to be photographed naturally. This blend of technical mastery and an intuitive grasp of human nature produced some of the most iconic images in photographic history.
Henri Cartier-Bresson’s Leica M3 has become synonymous with the golden age of photojournalism, especially with his involvement in the Magnum Photos agency, which he co-founded in 1947. Magnum’s mission, founded on the ideals of capturing history in its most authentic form, resonated deeply with Cartier-Bresson’s ethos. His work paved the way for future generations of photographers who sought to document history with the same immediacy and authenticity. Today, his Leica M3, along with his timeless images, continues to inspire photographers around the world. Cartier-Bresson’s mastery of light, composition, and human interaction in his photographs remains an enduring lesson in visual storytelling—one that celebrates the power of capturing reality through the lens of a camera.
“Burgos, Spain” (1953)Credit...Fondation Henri Cartier-Bresson/Magnum Photos
“It’s difficult to know what the tone of the book is,” Campany said in a phone interview. “There’s a kind of open-endedness to it. You could put ‘The Europeans’ in front of 10 people and they’d all come away with a 一張黑白照片,一群身穿深色長袍、頭戴帽子的人正沿著一條土路走向觀者。
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