Henri Cartier-Bresson Foundation Presents Never Before Seen Photos by Robert Doisneau

Henri Cartier-Bresson Foundation Presents Never Before Seen Photos by Robert Doisneau artlover666777888888888

Two visitors to the Henri Cartier-Bresson Foundation look at photographs by Robert Doisneau. EFE/Lucas Dolega.

PARIS.- The Henri Cartier-Bresson Foundation opened an exhibition of approximately 100 photographs taken by Robert Doisneau. The photographs have been gatheres from the Foundations collections and other museum and private collections. The exhibition aims to show the viewer the world Doisneau wanted to prove existed. The catalog, published in French by Steidl, is accompanied by a text written by Agnès Sire and of a review made by art critic Jean-François Chevrier in 1983. "There are several photographs in this show that have always been presented in other exhibitions, but there are others that have never before been seen,"said the curator Agnès Sire to EFE. Robert Doisneau (April 14, 1912 - April 1, 1994) was a French photographer noted for his frank and often humorous depictions of Paris street life. Robert Doisneau was one of France's most popular and prolific reportage photographers. He was known for his modest, playful, and ironic images of amusing juxtapositions, mingling social classes, and eccentrics in contemporary Paris streets and cafes. Influenced by the work of Kertész, Atget, and Cartier-Bresson, in over 20 books Doisneau has presented a charming vision of human frailty and life as a series of quiet, incongruous moments. Doisneau has written: "The marvels of daily life are exciting; no movie director can arrange the unexpected that you find in the street." Among his most recognizable work is Le baiser de l'hôtel de ville (Kiss by the Hôtel de Ville), a photo of a couple kissing in the busy streets of Paris. The identity of the couple was a mystery until 1993, when Denise and Jean-Louis Lavergne took Doisneau to court for taking the picture without their knowledge. This action prompted Doisneau to reveal that he posed the shot in 1950 using actor/models Françoise Bornet and Jacques Carteaud. Françoise was given an original print as part of her payment. In April 2005 she sold the print for 155,000 € at an auction. Paris was one of the favorite photographic subjects of Doisneau. Doisneau's work gives unusual prominence and dignity to children's street culture; returning again and again to the theme of children at play in the city, unfettered by parents. His work treats their play with seriousness and respect. In his honour, and owing to this, there are several Ecole Primaire (Primary Schools) names after him. An example is at Veretz (Indre-et-Loire).