Henri Cartier-Bresson: Masters of Photography Series

Photo Poche #2

by Henri Cartier-Bresson (Photographer)

Henri Cartier-Bresson reveals--as only a few great artists have done--the variety and richness of human experience in the twentieth century. This second volume of Aperture's Masters of Photography series confirms the genius of the photographer who--with the new, smaller, hand-held cameras and faster films--defined the idea of “the decisive moment” in photography. Cartier-Bresson's imagery is intimate but utterly respectful of his subjects. In his travels throughout the world, he has captured glimpses of individual lives in scores of countries. Taken together, Cartier-Bresson's works constitute a personal history of epic scope.
This volume presents 42 of the artist's photographs, each recognized as a masterpiece of the medium. In addition, Cartier-Bresson offers a brief statement about what drives his work.

Genres: Photography, Art, Nonfiction, Reference, Art and Photography, Biography, France

96 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1971

About the author

Henri Cartier-Bresson was a French photographer considered to be the father of modern photojournalism, an early adopter of 35 mm format, and the master of candid photography. He helped develop the "street photography" or "real life reportage" style that has influenced generations of photographers that followed.

Reviews

[Jon Nakapalau · Rating 5 out of 5]

A master - my words would not do justice to these images. You feel as if you have stepped out of a time machine; and you are there - taken back to a time and place that has not existed since long before you were born. This is such a hard feeling to put into words - so I will stop now.

[arcobaleno · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poesie in bianco e nero
Questo libretto contiene poco più di sessanta foto di Henri Cartir-Bresson. Non esauriscono quelle della mostra, ma tutte sono presenti nell'allestimento presso la Mole Vanvitelliana di Ancona (fino al 17 giugno 2018). Naturalmente le immagini sono in formato cartolina, quindi ridotto, ma hanno il pregio di essere silenziose. Perché gli scatti di HCB non hanno bisogno di parole di accompagnamento né di spiegazioni; pur fissando un istante in un'immagine, essi sintetizzano un divenire e contengono una storia: basta saper osservare, leggere al di là delle figure e lasciarsi trasportare da quelle poesie di luci e ombre, di bianchi e neri. E allora tutta la storia appare ed emoziona.

Nota: qualche anno fa avevo acquistato un analogo "libretto-ricordo"; casualmente entrambi riportano in copertina la stessa foto, ma molto diverse sono le edizioni. Inutilmente verbosa e pretenziosa quella, essenziale e pulita questa.

[Lidia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Decir "read" es hacer trampas, porque apenas hay un prólogo y algunas palabras de Cartier-Bresson. Pero quería ponerlo por aquí porque lo he sacado de la biblioteca y me fascina lo que consiguen transmitir los fotógrafos. Me fascina su capacidad para inmortalizar lo ordinario y lo extraordinario. Si te gusta la fotografía, es un librito con el que se disfruta mucho.
Me quedo con la foto: Rumanía, 1975.

[Roy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think I’ve found a new ‘reading’ interest, thanks to my first host family in Italy; collections of photographs by ‘classic’ photographers.

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

As secret Santa gifts go, this had got to be one of the best ones. Although it's in French (a language I don't read) and the book is heavily coffee stained (at least I hope it's coffee) it is a great collection of photographs.

Beyond the introduction, it's 63 classic Bresson photographs. Each labeled with the year the photograph was taken and the location and title.

I never did find out who it was from...

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

His photos are amazingly inpirational.
Open any page to find his grip of decisive moments. No need a word.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a must have if you're into classic street photography.

[CD · Rating 3 out of 5]

One in the Aperture Series that like so many others, is great as far as it goes. Thus the 3 Stars rather than 4. The quality writing and beautiful image selection and reproduction are first rate in all these books. As a comparative reference to the 'other photographers' in the series these are essential library additions for the photographer/historian, art-artist/historian, etc. As definitive works for photographers in the series they are slightly lacking.

HC-B is a somewhat difficult subject due to the breadth of time his productive career covered. Do you spend more time on MAGNUM work or on his 'personal' work? Is the 'street' photography element more important or is the war and journalism coverage of greater important. In a book of this brevity these are valid editorial questions.

Well done, just not enough and as with all of these works, I would have liked a different physical format in dimension. Also like the rest of the Aperture series, this book does inspire most to look farther for more information and other works.

A starting point and the whole set or sets of this collection is quite a start on a compact history of photography.

[Hubert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another enjoyable book from the Masters of Photography Series, this one by Henri Cartier-Bresson. Cartier-Bresson focuses more on the human subject and their interaction in their environments, with more clearly identifiable historical or cultural signifiers accompanying them. The photos reveal the temporal richness of historical material, yet still maintaining empathy for the human subject.

Cool series, and a good bookshelf / coffee-table book.

[Larraine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been meaning to spend more time with photography books and the recent move we made has helped. I'm able to get books out of the library that weren't available in our previous location. They were in the libraries but weren't available to be borrowed which didn't help especially during a pandemic. This book has an introduction by the artist himself.

I especially liked this quote: "Photography appears to be an easy activity; in fact it is a varied and ambiguous process in which the only common denominator among its practitioners is their instrument." He goes on to say he that he was not interested in "manufactured" or staged photographs. This is a small but intense representative collection of the artist's photographs. It includes a photo of William Faulkner looking like he was caught unaware as well as one of Pablo Picasso holding court in Paris after the city was liberated.

I definitely plan to see if I can find more books of his photography. What is so interesting is that, despite the question for sharpness, that's not what interested him either. I have to definitely think more about what is important in a photograph.

[Joe · Rating 5 out of 5]

HCB... his photographs need no explanations; they always speak volumes all by their lonesome. The biggest thrill would be to see them mounted on a wall, but this small book's display of them does these 40 plus classic shots justice and is so inspiring that it warrants many viewings. Most of the material in this book predates the 60's and the proof of their brilliance is that they still hold much value way into the 21st Century.

[Italo André · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sobre as imagens do Cartier-Bresson, não há o que comentar. Sobre o livro, é um produto de qualidade: simples, material bom e um preço acessível - o que é muito bem-vindo, uma vez que não é tão fácil achar livros de fotografia a um preço baixo. Este foi meu primeiro contato com a editora Cosac Naify, que parece ser extremamente competente.

[Alfonso de Castro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Una forma sencilla, accesible y muy adecuada de acercarse al extensísimo trabajo del que está considerado por muchos como el principal fotógrafo del siglo XX. A pesar de que se trata de un libro de formato pequeño, las fotografías de la colección Photo Poche están muy bien editadas lo que permite que podamos disfrutar viendo los matices de cada imagen.

[Puja · Rating 4 out of 5]

hella fantastic at composing photographic images with 35mm... this is a great (but small) introduction into this famous photographer's work. not quite up to par with his work during the magnum years... lots of good stuff taken in russia though.

[Paul Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This brief book contains 42 of the world's greatest photographs, all taken by Henri Cartier-Bresson. It is tempting to linger on the images long after one has turned the last page. Simply brilliant!

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

a good, small, selection of HCB's photos. I want to find a bigger book with more. It's a good start though. HCB is great.

[Karena · Rating 5 out of 5]

For inspiration.

[Pedro Aquino · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sempre inspirador.

[Freda Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a photography book. Whoever decided which photos would make it into the book did a fantastic job. This is some of his best work. A lot of it I hadn't seen before.

[Mystery_Cruising · Rating 4 out of 5]

63 roughly 6x4" prints plus the smaller one on the cover which isn't repeated inside. Includes many classics, like the one with the guy jumping over the puddle (uh oh, he's about to get soaked!!! or at least splashed quite a bit!!) and the one where the boy is carrying a bottle of wine in each arm and pulling a funny face. The selection spans from the 30s through to the 70s and takes in locations all over Europe, as well as the USA, Mexico, India, China and Japan (and maybe other places I've missed). People who like going "oh look it's Matisse" or "oh look it's Giacometti" will be pleased with the pictures of Matisse and Giacometti respectively.

Fantastic pictures (what an eye for composition and what another eye for coincidence), but I've knocked a star off because I reckon it'd be possible to print them nicer, with deeper blacks (my copy is from the 26th May 1989 print run).

[Philip Crowther · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not much word-reading to have been done here, but I've leafed through it dozens of times and each photograph contains its own little universe-Henri Cartier-Bresson was a master of visual grammar and syntax, and I could re-read each picture over a thousand times trying to internalize his wit and sense of poetry.

[Lilian · Rating 4 out of 5]

A edição da Cosac Naify é lindíssima, papel chique, de qualidade. O texto de introdução é bem pedante, mas nem precisava: as fotos do grande mestre compensam qualquer coisa. E o pequeno texto dele, antes das fotos, era o bastante pra esse volume.

[Christian Robles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing, breathtaking photographs. I'm in awe of the candid moments Brenson captures and the compelling compositions he uses to portray them. My only complaint is that Brenson's introduction is not friendly for beginner photographers and does not make any mention of the "decisive moment."

[Anna Wallman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a short best-of Cartier-Bressons photos. Photographs as good as art.

[Peter Beck · Rating 5 out of 5]

My father's favorite photographer! This images in this volume are a tad small, but the particular selection of images is wonderful.

[Chelsey · Rating 2 out of 5]

One of the best, most clear set of reasons and reflections I’ve ever read. Everything he writes is brilliant.

[Mfernandabarajas.170501 · Rating 5 out of 5]

That book was actually fabulous.

[Rosiles · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is definitely good.

[Alex P.G. · Rating 5 out of 5]

it was very impressive how it was that the secondary characters are so good in this book I did not expect it

[Michael Fiala · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pure art, love it.