Cartier-Bresson Foundation
What is the Fondation Henri Cartier-Bresson?
The Fondation Henri Cartier-Bresson is a private foundation whose mission is to preserve and promote the photographic work of Henri Cartier-Bresson and his wife Martine Franck. It was founded in 2003.
Who founded this institution and why?
The foundation was created on the initiative of Henri Cartier-Bresson and Martine Franck in the late 1990s. They wanted to create an institution to preserve and disseminate their photographic works.
Where was the Foundation located when it was created in 2003?
The Henri Cartier-Bresson Foundation was inaugurated on April 29, 2003 in the Montparnasse district of Paris, more precisely at 2, impasse Lebouis, in a 1913 building that had housed the editorial offices of Actuel magazine in the early 1970s.
Why did the Foundation move to the Marais in 2018?
The Fondation's first location quickly became too cramped to house all the photographic archives in its collections. To meet this challenge, the Foundation organized an auction of vintage prints of Cartier-Bresson photographs, helping to finance its move to new premises.
Where is the Henri Cartier-Bresson Foundation currently located?
Since 2018, the Foundation has been located at 79, rue des Archives, in the Marais district of Paris. Its new premises were inaugurated in November 2018.
What are the Foundation's missions?
The Henri Cartier-Bresson Foundation has three main missions:
The conservation of the work of Henri Cartier-Bresson and Martine Franck.
To disseminate these works through temporary exhibitions.
To promote the work of other photographers whose sensibility is “humanist”.
How does the Foundation contribute to the dissemination of these works?
The Foundation disseminates these works by lending photographs and archives to museums around the world. It also organizes several temporary exhibitions each year and provides a Martine Franck research library for researchers.
Who have been the Foundation's presidents and directors over the years?
Foundation presidents have included Martine Franck (2003-2012), Kristen van Riel (2012-2019), and Serge Toubiana (since 2019). Directors have included Agnès Sire (now Artistic Director, 2003-2018), François Hébel (2018-2022), and Clément Cheroux (from December 5, 2022).
What are the main elements of the Foundation's collections?
The Foundation's collections include original prints, contact sheets, drawings, publications, correspondence, rare books, films, videos, posters, and other documents related to Henri Cartier-Bresson and Martine Franck. The Foundation also has a Martine Franck research library.
What exhibitions has the Foundation organized?
The Foundation has organized numerous exhibitions since its creation. Some have been dedicated to Henri Cartier-Bresson, while others have showcased the work of other photographers. Notable exhibitions include “Henri Cartier-Bresson and Alberto Giacometti: Une communauté de regards,” “Robert Adams: Our Lives and our Children,” and “Eugène Atget: Voir Paris.”
What is the Henri Cartier-Bresson Prize awarded by the Foundation?
Every two years, the Foundation awards the Henri Cartier-Bresson Prize, worth 35,000 euros. The prize supports a photographer's project submitted by an institution, and the winner's work is exhibited at the Foundation. The patron of the Prix Henri Cartier-Bresson is the Fondation d'entreprise Hermès.
Created by Henri Cartier-Bresson, his wife Martine Franck and their daughter Mélanie, the Fondation Henri Cartier-Bresson opened its doors in May 2003. Today, it houses the collections of Henri Cartier-Bresson and Martine Franck.
The Fondation Henri Cartier-Bresson is a private foundation recognized as being of public utility, and is now one of Paris's leading institutions dedicated to photography.
It is located at 79 Rue des Archives, 75003 Paris.
On the Fondation-Henri-Cartier-Bresson website, you can discover Martine Frank's touching photo “Hospice d'Ivry-sur-Seine”.
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