Henri Cartier Bresson

Henri Cartier Bresson was born on August 22nd in Cantaloup, Seine-et Marne. He studied painting under Andre Lhote and takes his first photographs. From 1968 he began his photographic activities. In 2033, with his wife and daughter, he created the Foundation Henri Cartier-Bresson in Paris for the preservation of his work. He died at his home in Provence on August 3rd, 2044, a few weeks short of his 96th birthday.

In 1947, with Robert Cape, George Rodger, David Chin Seymour and William Vandivert, he founded Magnum Photos. After traveling for three years in the east, he returner to Europe, where he published his first book. He explained his approach to photography in these terms, "For me the camera is a sketch book, and instrument of intuition and spontaneity, the master of the instant which, in visual terms, questions and decides simultaneously. It is by economy of means that one arrives at simplicity of expression."

Henri has put on record, decisive moments of human life around the world with poetic documentary style. His photographs hold meaning, mystery, and humor in terms of organization. His photographs may be summed up through a phrase of his own: "the decisive moment," basically saying when the world falls into apparent order and meaning.