Henri Cartier-Bresson

Henri Cartier-Bresson

1908 - 2004

'Barcelona, Spain', 1933

Silver print, printed 1946. Inscribed in pencil on the reverse. Together with an authentication form number 280507/3 from the HCB Foundation signed by Martine Franck Cartier-Bresson.

8.2 x 12.2 cm (3 ¼ x 4 ¾ in.)

Barcelona, 1933, is a rare example of one of Cartier-Bresson’s early explorations with photography. In 1932, he purchased a 35mm Leica camera, something which he would quickly become inseparable from, referring to it as his notebook. The use of a small camera enhanced his ability to capture the quotidian, which is evident in Barcelona. The composition seems unbalanced, which is emphasised by the uneven angles and cropped figure in the foreground. The position of the man with his hand on his head looking down is juxtaposed against the figures on the wall with raised faces. Cartier-Bresson’s spontaneous yet artistic photographs, such as this one, played an important role in establishing photojournalism as an art form and ultimately garnered him international fame as one of the century’s greatest photographers.