The World Through a Lens

05 Henri Cartier Bresson Iconic Image

A cook pauses during his work day at a Texas lunch wagon in Henri Cartier Bresson’s iconic 1947 image | Photo: Kunst Halle Wien

At the Kunst Haus, the work of legendary photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson brings the trials and tears of the 20th century from the far reaches of the globe into a tangible frame

01/12/2011
Mary Albon

Henri Cartier-Bresson (1908–2004) had a knack for being in the right place at the right time. Considered the greatest photographer of the 20th century, if not of all time, he was present for a number of pivotal moments, including the Liberation of Paris, the division of Berlin and Beijing’s fall to the Communists, among others.

But Cartier-Bresson was also witness to countless private moments, capturing the intimacy of human encounters across a world of emotions. He worked discreetly, trying to remain unnoticed so that he could record unselfconscious scenes of passion, joy, tenderness, and sorrow. His photos convey a candid instantaneity and empathy for his subjects, but they also balance intellect, vision, and passion, which together convey a larger meaning.

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