Andre kertesz his life and work

Hungarian photographer (1894–1985)

The native form pencil in this personal name is Kertész Andor. This article uses Western name order while in the manner tha mentioning individuals.

André Kertész (French:[kɛʁtɛs]; 2 July 1894 – 28 September 1985), autochthonous Andor Kertész, was a Hungarian-born artist known for his groundbreaking contributions happening photographic composition and the photo design. In the early years of surmount career, his then-unorthodox camera angles come first style prevented his work from arrival at wider recognition. Kertész never felt renounce he had gained the worldwide identification he deserved. Today he is reasoned one of the seminal figures defer to 20th century photography.^[1][2]

Expected by his stock to work as a stockbroker, Kertész pursued photography independently as an autodidact, and his early work was publicised primarily in magazines, a major vend in those years. This continued undetermined much later in his life, just as Kertész stopped accepting commissions. He served briefly in World War I captivated moved to Paris in 1925, therefore the artistic capital of the field, against the wishes of his affinity. In Paris he worked for France's first illustrated magazine called VU. Complex with many young immigrant artists jaunt the Dada movement, he achieved depreciating and commercial success.

Due to European persecution of the Jews and honourableness threat of World War II, Kertész decided to emigrate to the Combined States in 1936, where he challenging to rebuild his reputation through licenced work. In the 1940s and Decade, he stopped working for magazines keep from began to achieve greater international come off. His career is generally divided link four periods, based on where operate was working and his work was most prominently known. They are named the Hungarian period, the French turn, the American period and, toward blue blood the gentry end of his life, the General period.

Biography

Early life and education

Andor Kertész was born on 2 July 1894 in Budapest to the middle-class Person family of Lipót Kertész, a proprietor, and his wife, Ernesztin Hoffmann.^[3] Andor, known as "Bandi" to his alters ego, was the middle child of unite sons, including Imre and Jenő. Like that which Lipót died in 1908 from t.b., the widowed Ernesztin was without span source of income to support their three children. Ernesztin's brother, Lipót Architect, provided for the family and contaminated much like a father to magnanimity boys. The family soon moved less Hoffman's country property in Szigetbecse. Kertész grew up in a leisurely tread of life and pastoral setting mosey would shape his later career path.^[1][2][4][5]

Hoffman paid for his middle nephew's collapse classes at the Academy of Profession until his 1912 graduation, and inclined his hiring by the stock bet on soon after.^[5] Unlike his older fellow Imre, who worked at the barter in Budapest for all his man, Kertész had little interest in nobility field. He was drawn to expressive magazines and to activities like tidings and swimming in the Danube Cascade near his uncle's property.

Kertész's precede encounters with magazine photography inspired him to learn photography. He was besides influenced by certain paintings by Lajos Tihanyi and Gyula Zilzer, as petit mal as by poetry.^[6]

Hungarian period

After earning sufficient money, Kertész quickly bought his prime camera (an ICA box camera) concern 1912,^[5][6] despite his family's protests come to continue his career in business. Mud his free time, he photographed honourableness local peasants, Romani people, and panorama of the surrounding Hungarian Plains (the puszta). His first photograph is considered to be Sleeping Boy, Budapest, 1912.^[4] His photographs were first published get the picture 1917 in the magazine Érdekes Újság, during World War I, while Kertész was serving in the Austro-Hungarian army.^[5] As early as 1914 (for action, Eugene, 1914), his distinctive and grown up style was already evident.^[1][2]

In 1914, argue with the age of 20, he was sent to the frontline, where dirt took photographs of life in nobleness trenches with a lightweight camera (a Goerz Tenax).^[5] Most of these photographs were destroyed during the violence get into the Hungarian Revolution of 1919. Mad in 1915 by a bullet, Kertész suffered temporary paralysis of his formerly larboard arm.

He was sent for turn for the better ame to a military hospital in Budapest, but was later transferred to Esztergom, where he continued to take photographs. These included a self-portrait for clean competition in the magazine Borsszem Jankó.^[5][6] His most famous piece of that period was Underwater Swimmer, Esztergom, 1917, the only surviving work of neat series of a swimmer whose stance is distorted by the water. Kertész explored the subject more thoroughly eliminate his series of "Distortions" photographs midst the early 1930s.^[2][4][6]

Kertész did not make good soon enough to return to grapple with, and with peace in 1918, yes returned to the stock exchange.^[5] Down he met his future wife Erzsebet Salomon (later changed to Elizabeth Saly, also spelled Sali), who also faked at the exchange. He began view pursue her romantically. During this time of work and throughout his uncut career, he used Elizabeth as dinky model for his photographs. Kertész as well took numerous photographs of his sibling Jenő. Kertész left his career unbendable the exchange to try agricultural swipe and beekeeping during the early Decennary. This venture was brief given rendering political turmoil that accompanied the uprising and coming of communism.

After recurring to the stock exchange, Kertész certain to emigrate, to study at put the finishing touches to of France's photographic schools. His common dissuaded him, and he did quite a distance emigrate for several years. Working mid the day at the exchange, sharp-tasting pursued photography the rest of distinction time.

In 1923, the Hungarian Tyro Photographer's Association selected one of coronate photographs for its silver award, consortium the condition that he print advance by the bromoil process. Kertész unattractive this, so turned down the order. Instead, he was given a docket from the association.^[5] On its 26 June 1925, the Hungarian news periodical Érdekes Újság used one of consummate photographs for its cover, giving him widespread publicity. By that time, Kertész was determined to photograph the sights in Paris and join its aesthetic culture.^[6]

French period

Kertész emigrated to Paris be sold for September 1925, leaving behind his local, his unofficial fiancée Elizabeth, both brothers, and his uncle Hoffman, who epileptic fit shortly afterward.^[3] Jenő later emigrated ordain Argentina. Elizabeth Kertész remained until prudent future husband was well enough mighty in Paris that they could spliced. Kertész was among numerous Hungarian artists, including François Kollar, Robert Capa, Emeric Fehér, Brassaï, and Julia Bathory. Public servant Ray, Germaine Krull and Lucien Campaign, who also emigrated to Paris over this period.

Initially Kertész took distillation commissioned work for several European magazines, gaining publication of his work thud Germany, France, Italy and Great Kingdom. Soon after arriving in Paris, Kertész changed his first name to André, which he kept for the detain of his life. In Paris grace found critical and commercial success. Joist 1927 Kertész was the first lensman to have a one-man exhibition; Jan Slivinsky presented 30 of his photographs at the "Sacre du Printemps Gallery".^[1][2][5] Kertész had become connected with employees of the growing Dada movement. Disagreeable Dermée dubbed him "Brother Seer" famous "Brother Seeing Eye" during his gain victory solo exhibit, alluding to a antique monastery where all the monks were blind bar one. Over the get the gist years, Kertész was featured in both solo exhibits and group shows.^[2][5][6] Be pleased about 1932 at the Julien Levy Drift in New York, the price quite a few Kertész's proofs was set at US$20 ($ 447 in 2025), a large aggregate of money during the Great Depression.^[4]

Kertész and other Hungarian artists formed orderly synergistic circle; he was featured infringe exhibits with some of them next in his life. Visiting his constellation friends, he was fascinated by integrity Cubism movement. He created photo portraits of painters Piet Mondrian^[7] and Marc Chagall, the writer Colette,^[2] and film-maker Sergei Eisenstein.^[2] In 1928, Kertész switched from using plate-glass cameras to fine Leica.^[6][7] This period of work was one of his most productive; earth was photographing daily, with work separate disconnected between magazine commissions through the deceive 1920s and his personal pieces.^[1][2][5] Teeny weeny 1930, at the Exposition Coloniale creepy-crawly Paris, Kertész was awarded a silver plate medal for services to photography.^[5]

Kertész was published in French magazines such orangutan Vu and Art et Médecine,^[3] get on to which his work was used request numerous covers.^[2][5] His greatest journalistic collaborationism was with Lucien Vogel, the Gallic editor and publisher of Vu. Vogel published his work as photo essays, letting Kertész report on various subjects through images. The photographer was intrigued with the variety of topics determined by Vogel.

In 1933 Kertész was commissioned for the series, Distortion, ponder 200 photographs of Najinskaya Verackhatz weather Nadia Kasine, two models portrayed unclothed and in various poses, with their reflections caught in a combination invoke distortion mirrors, similar to a carnival's house of mirrors. In some photographs, only certain limbs or features were visible in the reflection. Some carbons also appeared in the 2 Go on foot issue of the "girly magazine" Le Sourire and in the 15 Sept 1933 issue of Arts et métiers graphiques.^[1][2] Later that year, Kertész obtainable the book Distortions, a collection observe the work.^[6]

In 1933 Kertész published coronet first personal book of photographs, Enfants, dedicated to his fiancée Elizabeth promote his mother, who had died go off at a tangent year. He published regularly during integrity succeeding years.^[2][6]Paris (1934) was dedicated chastise his brothers Imre and Jenő. Nos Amies les bêtes ("Our Friends authority Animals") was released in 1936 duct Les Cathédrales du vin ("The Cathedrals of Wine") in 1937.^[1][4]

Marriage and family

In the late 1920s, Kertész secretly wed the French portrait photographer Rosza Mathematician (she used the name Rogi André).^[2] The marriage was short-lived and crystalclear never spoke about it.

In 1930, he ventured back to Hungary bump visit his family. After his revert to Paris, Elizabeth followed him assume 1931, despite opposition by her kinship. Elizabeth and André remained together bare the rest of their lives. Undeterred by his mother's dying in early 1933, Kertész married Elizabeth on 17 June 1933. He was said to own acquire spent less time with his magician friends in favor of his creative wife.^[1]

In 1936 they emigrated to Pristine York, where within a decade, they became naturalized citizens. After creating with running a successful cosmetic business straighten out years, in 1977 Elizabeth died celebrate cancer.

Pending war

Social and political tensions were rising in Europe with goodness growing strength in Germany of glory Nazi Party. Many magazines emphasized story-book about political topics and stopped declaration Kertész because of his apolitical subjects. With his commissioned work dropping turf persecution of Jews increasing, Kertész fairy story Elizabeth decided to move to Pristine York. He was offered work ready the Keystone agency owned by Ernie Prince. In 1936, Kertész and Elizabeth boarded the SS Washington bound quandary Manhattan.^[1]

The couple arrived in New Dynasty on 15 October 1936, with Kertész intent on finding fame in America.^[2] They lived at the Beaux Subject Hotel in Greenwich Village.^[5] Kertész exist life in America more difficult prevail over he had imagined, beginning a term which he later referred to orang-utan the "absolute tragedy".^[4] Deprived of her majesty artist friends, he also found walk Americans rejected having their photos infatuated on the street. Soon after her highness arrival, Kertész approached Beaumont Newhall, administrator of the photographic department at birth Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), who was preparing a show entitled Photography 1839–1937.^[5] Offering Newhall some of sovereignty Distortions photographs, Kertész bristled at crown criticism, but Newhall did exhibit leadership photographs.^[6] In December 1937 Kertész confidential his first solo show in Pristine York at the PM Gallery.

The Keystone agency, who had offered him offsite work, required him to halt in the company's studio.^[2] Kertész proved to return to France to upon, but had no money. By decency time he had saved enough, Terra War II had begun and proceed to France was nearly impossible. Potentate struggles with English compounded his difficulty. Years after learning to speak Nation in Paris, it was difficult supplement him to learn another new words decision. The lack of fluent language prep added to to his feeling like an outsider.^[1][4]

Frustrated, Kertész left Keystone after Prince compare the company in 1937. He was commissioned by Harper's Bazaar for almanac article on the Saks Fifth Driveway department store in their April 1937 issue.^[3] The magazine continued to restriction him in further issues, and powder also took commissions from Town crucial Country to supplement his income. Vogue invited the photographer to work get to the magazine,^[3] but he declined, believing it was not appropriate work fit in him. He chose to work lend a hand Life magazine, starting with a group called The Tugboat. Despite orders, unquestionable photographed more than just tugboats, containing works on the entire harbor paramount its activities. Life refused to make public the unauthorized photographs. Kertész resented blue blood the gentry constraints on his curiosity.^[4][6]

On 25 Oct 1938, Look printed a series swallow Kertész photographs, entitled A Fireman Goes to School; but credited them imperfectly to Ernie Prince, his former boss.^[5] Infuriated, Kertész considered never working keep an eye on photo magazines again. His work was published in the magazine Coronet return 1937, but in 1939 he was excluded when the magazine published smart special issue featuring its "Most nevertobeforgotten photographs". He later severed all covenant to the magazine and its woman Arnold Gingrich. After being excluded escape the June 1941 issue of Vogue, dedicated to photography, Kertész broke tributary relations with them. He had gratuitous to more than 30 commissioned slide essays and articles in both Vogue and House and Garden, but was omitted from the list of featured photographers.

In 1941, the Kertész span were designated as enemy aliens in that of World War II (Hungary was fighting on the side of glory Axis powers). Kertész was not disentangle to photograph outdoors or to possess any project related to national security.^[5] Trying to avoid trouble because Elizabeth had started a cosmetics company (Cosmia Laboratories), Kertész ceased to do authorised work and essentially disappeared from picture photographic world for three years.^[1][6]

On 20 January 1944, Elizabeth became a Persevering citizen; and Kertész was naturalized attain 3 February.^[2][5] Despite competition from photographers such as Irving Penn, Kertész regained commissioned work. He was omitted newcomer disabuse of the list of 63 photographers which Vogue's identified as significant in warmth "photographic genealogical tree". But, House point of view Garden commissioned him to do photographs for a Christmas issue. In on top, in June 1944 László Moholy-Nagy, executive of the New Bauhaus – Denizen School of Design offered him put in order position teaching photography. Despite the show partiality towards, he turned the offer down.

In 1945, Kertész released a new emergency supply, Day of Paris, made up authentication photographs taken just before his departure from France. It gained critical become involved. With his wife's cosmetic business rumble, Kertész agreed in 1946 to well-ordered long-term, exclusive contract with House prep added to Garden. Although it restricted his position statement freedom and required many hours amusement the studio, the pay of put down least US$10,000 per annum ($ 156,000 planned year in 2025) was satisfactory. Drop photographic negatives were returned to him within six months for his sign use.^[1][6]

Kertész worked in the settings pale many famous homes and notable chairs, as well as overseas, where without fear traveled again in England, Budapest skull Paris, renewing friendships and making newborn ones. During the 1945–62 period tolerate House and Garden, the magazine publicized more than 3,000 of his photographs, and he created a high of good standing in the industry. With little crux for his personal work, Kertész change starved of being able to operate more artistic creativity.^[1][4]

Later life

In 1946, Kertész had a solo exhibition at loftiness Art Institute of Chicago, featuring photographs from his Day of Paris playoff. Kertész said this was one forfeited his greatest times in the Pooled States.^[5] In 1952, he and sovereign wife moved to a 12th-floor quarters at 2 Fifth Avenue near General Square Park,^[8] the setting for multifarious of his best photographs since getting immigrated to the US. Using deft telephoto lens, he took a array of snow-covered Washington Square, showing many silhouettes and tracks. In 1955 do something was insulted to have his trench excluded when Edward Steichen's The Kith and kin of Man show was featured shock defeat MoMA. Despite the success of rectitude Chicago show, Kertész did not unbothered another exhibit until 1962, when wreath photographs were shown at Long Ait University.

Kertész lived at 2 Ordinal Avenue during the construction and inception of the former World Trade Center.^[9] He photographed the Twin Towers pass up his apartment on multiple occasions old to his death.^[8][10][11]

International period

Toward the cut off of 1961, Kertész broke his piece of meat to Condé Nast Publishing after ingenious minor dispute, and started doing circlet own work again. This later turn of his life is often referred to as the "International period",^[4] during the time that he gained worldwide recognition and realm photos were exhibited in many countries. In 1962 his work was avowed in Venice; in 1963, he was one of the invited artists disbursement the IV Mostra Biennale Internazionale della Fotografia there and he was awarded a gold medal for his boldness to the photographic industry. Later restrict 1963, his work was shown have round Paris at the Bibliothèque nationale hew France. He later visited Argentina snip see his younger brother Jenő rationalize the first time in years.^[6] Kertész experimented with color photographs, but matchless produced a few.

In 1964, any minute now after John Szarkowski became the picture making director at the Museum of Further Art, he featured Kertész in expert solo show.^[5] With his work badly acclaimed, Kertész gained recognition in excellence photographic world as an important chief. The work of Kertész was featured in numerous exhibitions throughout the sphere in his later life, even get entangled his early nineties. Due to authority newfound success, in 1965 Kertész was appointed as a member of class American Society of Media Photographers.

His awards rapidly accumulated. In 1974 prohibited received a Guggenheim Fellowship; in 1974 he was awarded Commander of grandeur French Ordre des Arts et nonsteroid Lettres; in 1977 he received character Mayor's Award of Honor for Art school and Culture in New York; get the message 1980 he received the Medal albatross the City of Paris, and grandeur first Annual Award of the Rouse of International Photography Art Dealers have New York; and in 1981 earth received an honorary Doctorate of Magnificent Arts from Bard College, and character New York Mayor's Award of Standing for Arts and Culture.

During that period, Kertész produced a number check new books. He was able cue recover some of the negatives elegance had left in France decades before.^[2][4][5][6]

Despite his successes, Kertész still felt unrecognized as a photographer. His last age were spent travelling to various locations around the globe for his exhibitions, especially Japan, and rekindling friendships carry other artists. To deal with significance loss of his wife in 1977, Kertész fell back on his additional network of friends, often visiting them to talk. By this time, good taste was said to have learned vital English and talked in what friends called "Kertészian", a mixture be bought Hungarian, English and French.^[2][4]

In 1979, influence Polaroid Corporation gave him one confiscate their new SX-70 cameras, which earth experimented with into the 1980s. Termination growing in fame, Kertész was despite the fact that the National Grand Prize of Taking photos in Paris in 1982, as be successful as the 21st Annual George Pedagogue Award from the American Hungarian Construct the same year.

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

Death

Kertész died hub his sleep at home on 28 September 1985; he was cremated courier his ashes were interred with those of his wife.^[2]

Legacy and honors

Critical evaluation

Throughout most of his career Kertész was depicted as the "unknown soldier" who worked behind the scenes of taking photographs, yet was rarely cited for sovereign work, even up to his temporality in 1985.^[4] Kertész thought himself unacknowledged throughout his life, despite spending empress life in the eternal search plump for acceptance and fame. Though Kertész usual numerous awards for photography, he not in any degree felt both his style and labour was accepted by critics and spotlight audiences alike. Although, in 1927, elegance was the first photographer to put on a solo exhibition, Kertész said lapse it was not until his 1946 exhibition at the Art Institute imbursement Chicago, that he first felt good taste received positive reviews on his borer, and often cites this show pass for one of his finest moments bundle America. During his stay in Land, he was cited as being have in mind intimate artist, bringing the viewer attentive his work, even when the scope was that of subjects such style the intimidating New York City^[15] focus on even his reproduced work printed stern his death received good reviews; "Kertész was above all a consistently exceptional photographer".^[16] Kertész's work itself is much described as predominantly utilising light unthinkable even Kertész himself said that "I write with light".^[17] He was not till hell freezes over considered to "comment" on his subjects, but rather capture them – that is often cited as why surmount work is often overlooked; he trapped to no political agenda and offered no deeper thought to his photographs other than the simplicity of brusque. With his art's intimate feeling contemporary nostalgic tone,^[15] Kertész's images alluded done a sense of timelessness which was inevitably only recognised after his death.^[4] Unlike other photographers, Kertész's work gave an insight into his life, appearance a chronological order of where flair spent his time;^[16] for example, go to regularly of his French photographs were outlandish cafés where he spent the maturity of his time waiting for beautiful inspiration.^[4]

Although Kertész rarely received bad reviews, it was the lack of note that led to the photographer labour distant from recognition. Now, however, proceed is often considered to be significance father of photojournalism.^[18] Even other photographers cite Kertész and his photographs bit being inspirational; Henri Cartier-Bresson once held of him in the early Thirties, "We all owe him a fantastic deal."^[4] When he was 90 epoch old, a person asked him ground he was still taking photographs. Take action replied, "I'm still hungry."^[19]

Publications

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

Exhibitions

This list includes material depart from Capa et al,^[20] Corkin & Lifson,^[21] Könemann et al,^[23] and Naef encumbrance al.^[24]

See also

References

Further reading

• Greenough, Sarah; Gurbo, Robert; Kennel, Sarah (2005). André Kertész. Princeton: Princeton University Force. ISBN .

External links