1908–2004 - was a French photographer and co-founder of Magnum Photos, widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in 20th-century photography. A key representative of humanist photography, he is best known for his precisely composed black-and-white images and for articulating the concept of the “decisive moment.”

After initially training as a painter, Cartier-Bresson turned to photography in the early 1930s and soon began working internationally as a photojournalist. He documented major historical events, including the liberation of Paris after World War II, while maintaining a sustained interest in everyday life and fleeting human gestures. Working almost exclusively with a Leica camera, he rejected cropping and emphasized composition at the moment of exposure.

Cartier-Bresson’s influence is closely tied to his photobooks, particularly Images à la sauvette (1952), which became one of the foundational works of modern photographic publishing. Other important books include Moscou (1955) and D’une Chine à l’autre (1968), reflecting his extensive travels and long-term engagement with social and political change. In 1972, he largely ceased professional photography and devoted himself to drawing. His work continues to shape both documentary practice and the history of the photobook.

Reference
Biography text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA), German edition. Retrieved January 19, 2026.
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henri_Cartier-Bresson