Back To The First Love | Le Couperet HCB


	VII. Back To The First Love (1974 – 2004) Le dessin: une méditation In an interview in 1974, Henri Cartier-Bresson explains that photography interests him no longer. After having scoured the world for more than forty years, looking for meaningful and unique imagery, he decides to refocus on his first passion: drawing. This way, during the last thirty years of his life, Cartier-Bresson spends his time drawing in his home in Paris or at his country house in southern France. Still, his camera always remains within reach and from time to time he makes some pictures, mainly of landscapes with impressive shadows.
		FIG.26 Self-portrait, H. Cartier-Bresson 1987

	What really stands out is the doubting — sometimes even indecisive — hand of his drawings, which contrasts sharply to the clear lines in the majority of his photographs (FIG.26).
		FIG.27 Henri Cartier-Bresson, M. Franck/Magnum Photos Provence, Frankrijk, 1979

	Following his interest in Buddhism, which calls for harmony with nature, he prefers to draw in open air (FIG.27). It is also no secret that Cartier-Bresson enjoyed his extended freedom, and that he considered it a blessing to be able to grow old without any major media attention (FIG.28).
		FIG.28 Henri Cartier-Bresson drawing his self-portrait, M. Franck/Magnum Photos Paris, France, 1992

	In 2000, Cartier-Bresson, together with his wife Martine and his daughter Mélanie, launches the idea to establish a foundation which can shelter his complete oeuvre and host exhibitions of other artists. In 2002, the Henri Cartier-Bresson Foundation is a fact.
		“Le temps court et s'écoule et notre mort seule arrive à le rattraper. La photographie est un couperet qui dans l'éternité saisit l'instant qui l'a ébloui.” Henri Cartier-Bresson

	On August 3, 2004 Henri Cartier-Bresson passes away in his mansion in L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, South-France, at the age of 95. In a press release the French president Jacques Chirac praises him for the passion with which he immortalized the 20th century in pictures. He calls him a great humanist and one of the most respected artists in the world. { Printer-friendly version } { Read on: Descendants }
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VII. Back To The First Love

Le dessin: une méditation

“Le temps court et s'écoule et notre mort seule arrive à le rattraper. La photographie est un couperet qui dans l'éternité saisit l'instant qui l'a ébloui.”