Henri Cartier-Bresson

Looking back

Like many photographers of his era, Henri Cartier-Bresson had the chance to become very old. He saw a lot, experienced a lot, and the amount of historical events he could capture during the 20th century, is simply amazing. From the Spanish Civil War, over the liberation of Paris and the death of Gandhi, to the demonstrations of May 1968: he was there, time and time again.

Still, it is not just because of the impact these events had on world history that Cartier-Bresson became so well-known. His share in transforming photography into a highly recognized art form is what truly makes him one of the greatest photographers of the past century. His images are etched in our collective memory. It is now up to future generations to decide whether his photos will remain timeless and whether his name will not be forgotten.

Over the years, his personality grew richer in content and it became more difficult to fathom his motivations, as might be the case with all artists. Yet he always remained true to his beliefs, and consistent in his artistic and political choices.

Initially it seemed a hell of a task to dedicate an entire website to a man like Henri Cartier-Bresson, without lapsing into endless chatter. The fact that the writing and compilation of these pages, however, never started to get boring, is perhaps the best proof that his form of expression — photography — is at least equally profound as the visual arts of his fellow artists, which he admired so much.

We would like to end with the final thought Johan de Vos formulated in De Standaard. "We will remember Henri Cartier-Bresson as a friendly man. He gave reportage photography a more elegant face. He made the world a little less heavy."