Mr Henri CARTIER BRESSON, legendary photographer of international renown, has passed away in the French alps town of St Justin on Tuesday the 3rd August 2004. His decease was announced only this morning. Of secretive nature, his decease was announced only once the funeral has been completed.
Born in 1908 at Chanteloup near Paris, Henri Cartier Bresson was drawer, painter, philosopher and photographer. His passion of photography has led him to different parts of the world 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 (Independance), 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 photographies were exposed at major museums and art galleries in the USA and in Europe.
Henri Cartier Bresson is deeply influenced by oriental culture and way of life. He is a declared Buddhist and regular follower of the teachings given by His Holiness the Dalai Lama in France. He is also a staunch supporter of the Tibetan cause and used to participate in manifestations and petition campaigns for Tibet. Mr Cartier Bresson has also taken portrait photographies of His Holiness, some of which have been published in major French journals.
Of late, upon the insistence of his wife Mrs Martine Franck, he has founded a 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.
THIS REPORT EDITED by Bureau du Tibet, Paris, on 5th August 2004
