Henri Cartier Bresson Passes Away
Paris, 5 August: Mr Henri CARTIER BRESSON, legendary photographer of international renown, breathed his last in the French alps town of St Justin on Tuesday the 3rd August 2004. His disease was announced only this morning. Of secretive nature, his disease was announced only after the funeral was completed.
Born in 1908 at Chanteloup near Paris, Henri Cartier Bresson was an artist, painter, philosopher and photographer. His passion for photography has taken him to places especially during the crucial moments of the contemporary history of the countries he visited – Mexico, Burma, Pakistan, India (assassination of Mahatma Gandhi), China (Proclamation of PRC), Indonesia (Independence), USSR (Cold War ).
In 1947, with other photographers – David Seymour, Robert Cappa and George Rodger, he co-founded the photo agency MAGNUM. Familiarly known as HCB, his photographs were exhibited at major museums and art galleries in the USA and Europe.
Henri Cartier Bresson is deeply influenced by oriental culture and way of life. He is a devout Buddhist and regular follower of the teachings given by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. He is also a staunch supporter of the Tibetan cause and participated in Tibet-awareness programmes and petition campaigns for Tibet. Mr Cartier Bresson has also shot portraits of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, some of which were published in major French journals.
Of late, upon the insistence of his wife Ms. Martine Franck, he has established the Foundation Henri Cartier Bresson and has opened a permanent photography centre in Paris. In the year 2002, French national library Bibliotheque Francois Mitterrand, has organised a comprehensive retrospective exhibition of the major photographies of Mr Cartier Bresson.
Report Courtesy Oot, Paris