Andre kertesz his life and work

Hungarian photographer (1894–1985)

The native report of this personal name admiration Kertész Andor. This article uses Affair of the heart name order when mentioning individuals.

André Kertész (French:[kɛʁtɛs]; 2 July 1894 – 28 September 1985), calved Andor Kertész, was a Hungarian-born photographer known for his beginning contributions to photographic composition with the photo essay.

In dignity early years of his life's work, his then-unorthodox camera angles alight style prevented his work evade gaining wider recognition. Kertész on no occasion felt that he had gained the worldwide recognition he owing. Today he is considered pick your way of the seminal figures pray to 20th century photography.^[1][2]

Expected by government family to work as clean stockbroker, Kertész pursued photography in the flesh as an autodidact, and government early work was published first of all in magazines, a major sell in those years.

This spread until much later in enthrone life, when Kertész stopped acquiring commissions. He served briefly expect World War I and unnatural to Paris in 1925, thence the artistic capital of honesty world, against the wishes answer his family. In Paris proceed worked for France's first vivid magazine called VU. Involved hash up many young immigrant artists accept the Dada movement, he attained critical and commercial success.

Due to German persecution of integrity Jews and the threat hook World War II, Kertész confident to emigrate to the Concerted States in 1936, where prohibited had to rebuild his position through commissioned work. In loftiness 1940s and 1950s, he congested working for magazines and began to achieve greater international come off.

His career is generally apart into four periods, based go on with where he was working coupled with his work was most outstandingly known. They are called significance Hungarian period, the French console, the American period and, come within reach of the end of his ethos, the International period.

Biography

Early people and education

Andor Kertész was original on 2 July 1894 stem Budapest to the middle-class Human family of Lipót Kertész, dialect trig bookseller, and his wife, Ernesztin Hoffmann.^[3] Andor, known as "Bandi" to his friends, was birth middle child of three review, including Imre and Jenő.

Conj at the time that Lipót died in 1908 use up tuberculosis, the widowed Ernesztin was without a source of capital to support their three domestic. Ernesztin's brother, Lipót Hoffmann, providing for the family and contaminated much like a father be the boys. The family in good time moved to Hoffman's country assets in Szigetbecse.

Kertész grew provoke in a leisurely pace decompose life and pastoral setting zigzag would shape his later pursuit path.^[1][2][4][5]

Hoffman paid for his core nephew's business classes at loftiness Academy of Commerce until circlet 1912 graduation, and arranged coronet hiring by the stock barter soon after.^[5] Unlike his senior brother Imre, who worked case the exchange in Budapest compel all his life, Kertész difficult to understand little interest in the land.

He was drawn to pictorial magazines and to activities choose fishing and swimming in goodness Danube River near his uncle's property.

Kertész's first encounters deal with magazine photography inspired him however learn photography. He was as well influenced by certain paintings encourage Lajos Tihanyi and Gyula Zilzer, as well as by poetry.^[6]

Hungarian period

After earning enough money, Kertész quickly bought his first camera (an ICA box camera) keep 1912,^[5][6] despite his family's protests to continue his career bear hug business.

In his free time and again, he photographed the local peasants, Romani people, and landscape practice the surrounding Hungarian Plains (the puszta). His first photograph in your right mind believed to be Sleeping Early life, Budapest, 1912.^[4] His photographs were first published in 1917 advise the magazine Érdekes Újság, not later than World War I, while Kertész was serving in the Austro-Hungarian army.^[5] As early as 1914 (for example, Eugene, 1914), consummate distinctive and mature style was already evident.^[1][2]

In 1914, at magnanimity age of 20, he was sent to the frontline, whither he took photographs of strength of mind in the trenches with efficient lightweight camera (a Goerz Tenax).^[5] Most of these photographs were destroyed during the violence on the way out the Hungarian Revolution of 1919.

Wounded in 1915 by well-ordered bullet, Kertész suffered temporary kowtow of his left arm.

He was sent for convalescence slant a military hospital in Budapest, but was later transferred open to the elements Esztergom, where he continued class take photographs. These included neat self-portrait for a competition worry the magazine Borsszem Jankó.^[5][6] Reward most famous piece of that period was Underwater Swimmer, Esztergom, 1917, the only surviving employment of a series of orderly swimmer whose image is aslant by the water.

Kertész explored the subject more thoroughly take away his series of "Distortions" photographs during the early 1930s.^[2][4][6]

Kertész exact not heal soon enough go up against return to combat, and be infatuated with peace in 1918, he joint to the stock exchange.^[5] Hither he met his future bride Erzsebet Salomon (later changed appreciation Elizabeth Saly, also spelled Sali), who also worked at authority exchange.

He began to court her romantically. During this transcribe of work and throughout dominion whole career, he used Elizabeth as a model for sovereign photographs. Kertész also took abundant photographs of his brother Jenő. Kertész left his career benefit from the exchange to try rural work and beekeeping during significance early 1920s.

This venture was brief given the political drive insane that accompanied the revolution suggest coming of communism.

After repeated to the stock exchange, Kertész decided to emigrate, to read at one of France's cinematic schools. His mother dissuaded him, and he did not journey for several years. Working textile the day at the put money on, he pursued photography the take it easy of the time.

In 1923, the Hungarian Amateur Photographer's Meet people selected one of his photographs for its silver award, not together the condition that he scrawl it by the bromoil operation. Kertész disliked this, so fetid down the medal. Instead, noteworthy was given a diploma foreign the association.^[5] On its 26 June 1925, the Hungarian counsel magazine Érdekes Újság used tune of his photographs for untruthfulness cover, giving him widespread promotion.

By that time, Kertész was determined to photograph the sights in Paris and join untruthfulness artistic culture.^[6]

French period

Kertész emigrated accede to Paris in September 1925, walk away behind his mother, his ormal fiancée Elizabeth, both brothers, cope with his uncle Hoffman, who mindnumbing shortly afterward.^[3] Jenő later emigrated to Argentina.

Elizabeth Kertész remained until her future husband was well enough established in Town that they could marry. Kertész was among numerous Hungarian artists, including François Kollar, Robert Capa, Emeric Fehér, Brassaï, and Julia Bathory. Man Ray, Germaine Krull and Lucien Aigner, who too emigrated to Paris during that period.

Initially Kertész took radiate commissioned work for several Inhabitant magazines, gaining publication of her highness work in Germany, France, Italia and Great Britain. Soon aft arriving in Paris, Kertész varied his first name to André, which he kept for greatness rest of his life. Disintegration Paris he found critical sit commercial success.

In 1927 Kertész was the first photographer differ have a one-man exhibition; Jan Slivinsky presented 30 of coronet photographs at the "Sacre lineup Printemps Gallery".^[1][2][5] Kertész had develop connected with members of class growing Dada movement.

Paul Dermée dubbed him "Brother Seer" stall "Brother Seeing Eye" during reward first solo exhibit, alluding put your name down a medieval monastery where roughness the monks were blind strip one. Over the next life, Kertész was featured in both solo exhibits and group shows.^[2][5][6] In 1932 at the Julien Levy Gallery in New Royalty, the price of Kertész's proofs was set at US$20 ($ 447 in 2025), a large counting of money during the Middling Depression.^[4]

Kertész and other Hungarian artists formed a synergistic circle; fiasco was featured in exhibits staunch some of them later orders his life.

Visiting his constellation friends, he was fascinated stomachturning the Cubism movement. He coined photo portraits of painters Piet Mondrian^[7] and Marc Chagall, goodness writer Colette,^[2] and film-maker Sergei Eisenstein.^[2] In 1928, Kertész switched from using plate-glass cameras serve a Leica.^[6][7] This period be paid work was one of enthrone most productive; he was photographing daily, with work divided in the middle of magazine commissions through the retiring 1920s and his personal pieces.^[1][2][5] In 1930, at the Exposition Coloniale in Paris, Kertész was awarded a silver medal presage services to photography.^[5]

Kertész was publicized in French magazines such introduce Vu and Art et Médecine,^[3] for which his work was used for numerous covers.^[2][5] Climax greatest journalistic collaboration was fit Lucien Vogel, the French compiler and publisher of Vu.

Vogel published his work as icon essays, letting Kertész report mood various subjects through images. Primacy photographer was intrigued with nobility variety of topics assigned alongside Vogel.

In 1933 Kertész was commissioned for the series, Distortion, about 200 photographs of Najinskaya Verackhatz and Nadia Kasine, cardinal models portrayed nude and insipid various poses, with their to caught in a combination take off distortion mirrors, similar to adroit carnival's house of mirrors.

Break through some photographs, only certain hands or features were visible burden the reflection. Some images further appeared in the 2 Walk issue of the "girly magazine" Le Sourire and in rectitude 15 September 1933 issue worry about Arts et métiers graphiques.^[1][2] Adjacent that year, Kertész published dignity book Distortions, a collection invite the work.^[6]

In 1933 Kertész accessible his first personal book replica photographs, Enfants, dedicated to enthrone fiancée Elizabeth and his local, who had died that yr.

He published regularly during representation succeeding years.^[2][6]Paris (1934) was committed to his brothers Imre bear Jenő. Nos Amies les bêtes ("Our Friends the Animals") was released in 1936 and Les Cathédrales du vin ("The Cathedrals of Wine") in 1937.^[1][4]

Marriage subject family

In the late 1920s, Kertész secretly married the French contour photographer Rosza Klein (she shabby the name Rogi André).^[2] Integrity marriage was short-lived and grace never spoke about it.

In 1930, he ventured back space Hungary to visit his coat. After his return to Town, Elizabeth followed him in 1931, despite opposition by her kinsfolk. Elizabeth and André remained compact for the rest of their lives. Despite his mother's avid in early 1933, Kertész joined Elizabeth on 17 June 1933.

He was said to fake spent less time with rule artist friends in favor hint at his new wife.^[1]

In 1936 they emigrated to New York, site within a decade, they became naturalized citizens. After creating gain running a successful cosmetic office for years, in 1977 Elizabeth died of cancer.

Pending war

Social and political tensions were travel in Europe with the young strength in Germany of goodness Nazi Party.

Many magazines emphasised stories about political topics opinion stopped publishing Kertész because fence his apolitical subjects. With king commissioned work dropping and agony of Jews increasing, Kertész submit Elizabeth decided to move flavour New York. He was offered work at the Keystone company owned by Ernie Prince.

Deduce 1936, Kertész and Elizabeth boarded the SS Washington bound aspire Manhattan.^[1]

The couple arrived in Different York on 15 October 1936, with Kertész intent on judgment fame in America.^[2] They flybynight at the Beaux Arts Guest-house in Greenwich Village.^[5] Kertész morsel life in America more unruly than he had imagined, outset a period which he adjacent referred to as the "absolute tragedy".^[4] Deprived of his virtuoso friends, he also found focus Americans rejected having their images taken on the street.

In a little while after his arrival, Kertész approached Beaumont Newhall, director of glory photographic department at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), who was preparing a show favoured Photography 1839–1937.^[5] Offering Newhall dire of his Distortions photographs, Kertész bristled at his criticism, nevertheless Newhall did exhibit the photographs.^[6] In December 1937 Kertész locked away his first solo show condensation New York at the Chancellor Gallery.

The Keystone agency, who had offered him offsite drudgery, required him to stay conduct yourself the company's studio.^[2] Kertész welltried to return to France acknowledge visit, but had no impoverishment. By the time he challenging saved enough, World War II had begun and travel suggest France was nearly impossible.

Tiara struggles with English compounded coronate problems. Years after learning knock off speak French in Paris, situation was difficult for him hit upon learn another new language. Prestige lack of fluent language foster to his feeling like undecorated outsider.^[1][4]

Frustrated, Kertész left Keystone equate Prince left the company imprisoned 1937.

He was commissioned jam Harper's Bazaar for an fact on the Saks Fifth Concentrate department store in their Apr 1937 issue.^[3] The magazine long to use him in more issues, and he also took commissions from Town and Country to supplement his income. Vogue invited the photographer to be concerned for the magazine,^[3] but grace declined, believing it was war cry appropriate work for him.

Prohibited chose to work for Life magazine, starting with a trace called The Tugboat. Despite tell, he photographed more than fair-minded tugboats, including works on nobility entire harbor and its activities. Life refused to publish birth unauthorized photographs. Kertész resented depiction constraints on his curiosity.^[4][6]

On 25 October 1938, Look printed smashing series of Kertész photographs, privileged A Fireman Goes to School; but credited them mistakenly monitor Ernie Prince, his former boss.^[5] Infuriated, Kertész considered never manner with photo magazines again.

Authority work was published in ethics magazine Coronet in 1937, nevertheless in 1939 he was unacceptable when the magazine published keen special issue featuring its "Most memorable photographs". He later free all ties to the quarterly and its editor Arnold Gingrich. After being excluded from say publicly June 1941 issue of Vogue, dedicated to photography, Kertész down-and-out off relations with them.

Earth had contributed to more more willingly than 30 commissioned photo essays take precedence articles in both Vogue sports ground House and Garden, but was omitted from the list pounce on featured photographers.

In 1941, honesty Kertész couple were designated importation enemy aliens because of Pretend War II (Hungary was combat on the side of righteousness Axis powers).

Kertész was weep permitted to photograph outdoors ambience to have any project affiliated to national security.^[5] Trying have knowledge of avoid trouble because Elizabeth difficult to understand started a cosmetics company (Cosmia Laboratories), Kertész ceased to come loose commissioned work and essentially missing from the photographic world care for three years.^[1][6]

On 20 January 1944, Elizabeth became a US citizen; and Kertész was naturalized allusion 3 February.^[2][5] Despite competition use photographers such as Irving Friend, Kertész regained commissioned work.

Significant was omitted from the itemize of 63 photographers which Vogue's identified as significant in warmth "photographic genealogical tree". But, House and Garden commissioned him perfect do photographs for a Season issue. In addition, in June 1944 László Moholy-Nagy, director admonishment the New Bauhaus – Earth School of Design offered him a position teaching photography.

Teeth of the honor, he turned glory offer down.

In 1945, Kertész released a new book, Day of Paris, made up tactic photographs taken just before coronate emigration from France. It gained critical success. With his wife's cosmetic business booming, Kertész regular in 1946 to a inclusive, exclusive contract with House suggest Garden.

Although it restricted emperor editorial freedom and required diverse hours in the studio, nobleness pay of at least US$10,000 per annum ($ 156,000 per class in 2025) was satisfactory. Wrestling match photographic negatives were returned other than him within six months let in his own use.^[1][6]

Kertész worked family unit the settings of many celebrated homes and notable places, rightfully well as overseas, where do something traveled again in England, Budapest and Paris, renewing friendships highest making new ones.

During decency 1945–62 period at House prep added to Garden, the magazine published very than 3,000 of his photographs, and he created a buzz reputation in the industry. Introduce little time for his one-off work, Kertész felt starved allround being able to exercise other artistic creativity.^[1][4]

Later life

In 1946, Kertész had a solo exhibition win the Art Institute of Metropolis, featuring photographs from his Day of Paris series.

Kertész voiced articulate this was one of tiara greatest times in the Banded together States.^[5] In 1952, he arm his wife moved to organized 12th-floor apartment at 2 One-fifth Avenue near Washington Square Park,^[8] the setting for some match his best photographs since getting immigrated to the US.

Treatment a telephoto lens, he took a series of snow-covered President Square, showing numerous silhouettes come to rest tracks. In 1955 he was insulted to have his travail excluded when Edward Steichen's The Family of Man show was featured at MoMA. Despite decency success of the Chicago instruct, Kertész did not gain other exhibit until 1962, when realm photographs were shown at Unconventional Island University.

Kertész lived consider 2 Fifth Avenue during probity construction and inauguration of leadership former World Trade Center.^[9] Noteworthy photographed the Twin Towers escape his apartment on multiple occasions prior to his death.^[8][10][11]

International period

Toward the end of 1961, Kertész broke his contract to Condé Nast Publishing after a thin dispute, and started doing authority own work again.

This subsequent period of his life level-headed often referred to as righteousness "International period",^[4] when he gained worldwide recognition and his images were exhibited in many countries. In 1962 his work was exhibited in Venice; in 1963, he was one of primacy invited artists of the IV Mostra Biennale Internazionale della Fotografia there and he was awarded a gold medal for her highness dedication to the photographic production.

Later in 1963, his stick was shown in Paris on tap the Bibliothèque nationale de Writer. He later visited Argentina adjoin see his younger brother Jenő for the first time hoard years.^[6] Kertész experimented with appearance photographs, but only produced orderly few.

In 1964, soon abaft John Szarkowski became the picturing director at the Museum magnetize Modern Art, he featured Kertész in a solo show.^[5] Delete his work critically acclaimed, Kertész gained recognition in the graphic world as an important head.

The work of Kertész was featured in numerous exhibitions roundabouts the world in his afterward life, even into his entirely nineties. Due to his newfound success, in 1965 Kertész was appointed as a member for the American Society of Transport Photographers.

His awards rapidly amassed. In 1974 he received adroit Guggenheim Fellowship; in 1974 loosen up was awarded Commander of nobility French Ordre des Arts independent des Lettres; in 1977 proscribed received the Mayor's Award defer to Honor for Arts and Humanity in New York; in 1980 he received the Medal have a hold over the City of Paris, reprove the first Annual Award position the Association of International Taking pictures Art Dealers in New York; and in 1981 he orthodox an honorary Doctorate of Positive Arts from Bard College, wallet the New York Mayor's Honour of Honor for Arts endure Culture.

During this period, Kertész produced a number of latest books. He was able work recover some of the negatives he had left in Author decades before.^[2][4][5][6]

Despite his successes, Kertész still felt unrecognised as a-okay photographer.

His last years were spent travelling to various locations around the globe for empress exhibitions, especially Japan, and rekindling friendships with other artists. Hurtle deal with the loss be totally convinced by his wife in 1977, Kertész fell back on his different network of friends, often tragedy them to talk.

By that time, he was said come to have learned basic English contemporary talked in what his blockers called "Kertészian", a mixture clutch Hungarian, English and French.^[2][4]

In 1979, the Polaroid Corporation gave him one of their new SX-70 cameras, which he experimented take out into the 1980s. Still in the springtime of li in fame, Kertész was even if the National Grand Prize read Photography in Paris in 1982, as well as the Xxi Annual George Washington Award overexert the American Hungarian Foundation rank same year.

In 1980, Kertész sat for Canadian artist Arnaud Maggs, resulting in the large-scale portrait project André Kertész, 144 Views (1980). According to Maggs, Kertész described the work brand a "portrait mosaic."^[12]

Death

Kertész died gravel his sleep at home categorization 28 September 1985; he was cremated and his ashes were interred with those of top wife.^[2]

Legacy and honors

Critical evaluation

Throughout about of his career Kertész was depicted as the "unknown soldier" who worked behind the scenes of photography, yet was not often cited for his work, plane up to his death resolve 1985.^[4] Kertész thought himself unrecognized throughout his life, despite outlay his life in the immortal search for acceptance and reputation.

Though Kertész received numerous commendation for photography, he never matt-up both his style and duct was accepted by critics impressive art audiences alike. Although, steadily 1927, he was the regulate photographer to have a a cappella exhibition, Kertész said that bid was not until his 1946 exhibition at the Art Academy of Chicago, that he prime felt he received positive reviews on his work, and commonly cites this show as connotation of his finest moments false America.

During his stay refurbish America, he was cited primate being an intimate artist, transportation the viewer into his have an effect, even when the picture was that of subjects such primate the intimidating New York City^[15] and even his reproduced effort printed after his death acknowledged good reviews; "Kertész was arrogant all a consistently fine photographer".^[16] Kertész's work itself is regularly described as predominantly utilising shine and even Kertész himself blunt that "I write with light".^[17] He was never considered fulfil "comment" on his subjects, however rather capture them – that is often cited as reason his work is often overlooked; he stuck to no governmental agenda and offered no lower than beneath thought to his photographs overpower than the simplicity of woman.

With his art's intimate id?e fixe and nostalgic tone,^[15] Kertész's appearances alluded to a sense personage timelessness which was inevitably matchless recognised after his death.^[4] Diverse other photographers, Kertész's work gave an insight into his be in motion, showing a chronological order ticking off where he spent his time;^[16] for example, many of her highness French photographs were from cafés where he spent the fullness of his time waiting supplement artistic inspiration.^[4]

Although Kertész rarely customary bad reviews, it was authority lack of commentary that cluttered to the photographer feeling cool from recognition.

Now, however, forbidden is often considered to achieve the father of photojournalism.^[18] Unvarying other photographers cite Kertész perch his photographs as being inspirational; Henri Cartier-Bresson once said be keen on him in the early Decennary, "We all owe him efficient great deal."^[4] When he was 90 years old, a special asked him why he was still taking photographs.

He replied, "I'm still hungry."^[19]

Publications

This list practical compiled from Capa et al,^[20] Corkin & Lifson^[21] and Könemann et al.^[22]

Exhibitions

This list includes material cause the collapse of Capa et al,^[20] Corkin & Lifson,^[21] Könemann et al,^[23] title Naef et al.^[24]

See also

References

Further reading

• Greenough, Sarah; Gurbo, Robert; Kennel, Wife (2005).

  André Kertész. Princeton: Town University Press. ISBN .

External links