Henri Cartier-Bresson, one of the founding figures of modern photojournalism, is renowned for his innovative approach to capturing fleeting scenes—what he famously termed “the decisive moment.” His ability to encapsulate spontaneous, yet deeply resonant, moments has made him one of the most influential and admired photographers in the history of the medium. Before discovering photography, Cartier-Bresson studied painting, a discipline that significantly influenced his compositional style and artistic sensibility. It wasn’t until his early twenties that he fully embraced photography, helping to shape and develop the genre of street photography, which would go on to inspire countless photographers in the decades that followed.

After World War II, Cartier-Bresson, along with Robert Capa and other notable photographers, co-founded the Magnum Photos agency. This pioneering collective allowed photojournalists to maintain control over their work while reaching a broader audience, transforming the field of photojournalism. Through Magnum, Cartier-Bresson documented some of the most pivotal moments of the 20th century, producing major bodies of work that captured revolutionary China, the Soviet Union in the aftermath of Stalin’s death, postwar America during its boom, and Europe as it grappled with the transition from its older traditions to modern realities. His unique eye for composition and timing made his images iconic representations of the human experience.

Although Cartier-Bresson began to scale back his photographic activities in 1968, officially retiring from photography in 1975, his influence remained profound. Throughout his 45-year career, he garnered numerous awards, including the prestigious Grand Prix National de la Photographie in 1981. His work has been widely exhibited and published, with his photographs housed in prominent international collections. Cartier-Bresson’s enduring legacy is not only in the breadth and depth of his work but in the way he transformed the field of photography, influencing generations of visual storytellers.