Henri Cartier-Bresson once said, “Whatever we have done, Kertész did first,” acknowledging the profound influence of Hungarian-born photographer André Kertész (1894–1985). A pioneer in modern photography, Kertész began shooting in Budapest in 1912, later moving to Paris in 1925 where he became part of the avant-garde literary and artistic circles. He embraced the New Vision movement, blending spontaneous street scenes with refined geometric compositions.

His series On Reading, photographed over 50 years across Hungary, France, and the U.S., captures intimate, poetic moments of people absorbed in books—both in public and private spaces. These images highlight the universal joy of reading and Kertész’s talent for finding beauty in everyday life.

After emigrating to New York in 1936, he continued working as an artist and commercial photographer, though recognition for his influence came late. His legacy profoundly shaped generations of photographers, from Cartier-Bresson to Robert Frank, and helped define the visual language of modern photography.

WORKS
104

DIMENSIONS

16 x 20 (inches)

SPACE REQUIREMENTS

Aprox. 350 linear feet

INQUIRIES

exhibitions@curatorial.org
626.577.0044