Henri Cartier-Bresson Quotes

A collection of quotes by Henri Cartier-Bresson.

Henri Cartier-Bresson (1908-2004) was a renowned French photographer and pioneer of modern photojournalism. Born in Chanteloup-en-Brie, Seine-et-Marne, France, he developed a passion for painting and art from an early age. In the early 1930s, Cartier-Bresson shifted his focus towards photography, and his profound understanding of composition and his ability to capture decisive moments would later shape the course of his career.

Cartier-Bresson co-founded the Magnum Photos agency in 1947, alongside other prominent photographers such as Robert Capa and David Seymour. Through his work for magazines like LIFE and Paris Match, he documented significant events and captured memorable scenes from around the world. His photojournalistic style often portrayed fleeting but impactful moments, revealing the essence of his subjects. He possessed a unique ability to blend into the background, allowing him to capture candid and unscripted moments that told compelling visual stories.

Cartier-Bresson traveled extensively and his iconic images covered a wide range of themes, including portraits, street photography, and landscapes. His profound influence on photography was not just through his captivating images but also through his philosophy of the "decisive moment." He believed in capturing the precise instant when all elements came together to form a harmonious and meaningful composition.

Over his illustrious career, Cartier-Bresson received numerous awards and accolades, including the International Center of Photography's Lifetime Achievement Award. He continued to photograph until his death in August 2004, leaving behind a monumental body of work that continues to inspire and influence generations of photographers around the world.