Photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson (1908-2004) has travelled the world looking for always striking pictures. The new exhibition devoted to him at the Fondation Cartier-Bresson shows it: devoted to his two long stays in China in 1948-49 and ten years later in 1958, the exhibition presents about 154 original prints as well as many archive documents. The idea? Making the photographer’s report striking whatever the conditions of the shots were.
Because his first experience in China had nothing to do with the second one. In 1948, Henri Cartier-Bresson thinks he’s leaving for two weeks, sent by Life magazine that ordered pictures from Beijing before the Maoist army arrives, he stayed ten months. Then months photographing the lifestules of the Chinese populations, ten months thoroughly watching the debuts of Mao and his impacts on the Chinese daily life. Ten months giving a new definition to photojournalism offering some of the most emblematic pictures.
Ten years later, Henri Cartier-Bresson returns to China…. But he’s not as free to go and act. He stays four months and has to be accompanied by a guide. He now takes pictures of the Revolution, shoots the campaign taken by the galloping industrialization; he kind of writes the sequel of the story he wrote ten years earlier.
Seeing the two reports together is striking: this is an exhibition you don’t want to miss.
Photo credit: Gold Rush. End of the day, rush in front of a bank to buy gold. Last days of Kuomintang, Shanghai, December 23, 1948. © Fondation Henri Cartier-Bresson / Magnum Photos
Dates and Opening Time
From October 15th, 2019 to February 2nd, 2020
Location
Henri Cartier-Bresson Foundation
79 Rue des Archives
75003 Paris 3
Access
Metro lines 3 and 11 "Art et Métiers" station, line 3 "Temple" station, metro line 8 "Filles du Calvaire" station.
Prices
tarif réduit: €5
tarif plein: €9
Recommended age
For all
Official website
www.henricartierbresson.org
