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Valencia, Spain

Henri Cartier-Bresson

Artwork Details

Valencia, Spain
1933
Henri Cartier-Bresson
gelatin silver print on paper
9 1/8 in x 13 5/8 in (23.2 cm x 34.6 cm);18 1/8 in x 22 3/16 in (46.04 cm x 56.36 cm);10 15/16 in x 9 11/16 in (27.7 cm x 24.6 cm)
Museum Purchase
1971/2.149

Description

Subject Matter:

Henri Cartier-Bresson is known for “the decisive moment,” which is characterized as the fleeting time in which a photographer must make an instantaneous decision. Bresson began photographing seriously in 1930, acquiring a Leica, which was used throughout his career photographing some of the 20th century’s most important events. Bresson co-founded Magnum Photos with Robert Capa, David Seymour, and George Rodger. This photograph was made in Valencia, Spain, and shows a boy attempting to catch a ball. The ball was cropped out of frame, which decontextualizes the boy's gesture.

Physical Description:

A photograph of a young boy standing in front of a wall. He looks up with his arms spread wide. The peeling paint on the wall creates a textured backdrop.

Usage Rights:

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