Andre kertesz his life and work

Hungarian photographer (1894–1985)

The native dispatch of this personal name not bad Kertész Andor. This article uses Imaginativeness name order when mentioning individuals.

André Kertész (French:[kɛʁtɛs]; 2 July 1894 – 28 September 1985), ethnic Andor Kertész, was a Hungarian-born photographer known for his commencement contributions to photographic composition take the photo essay. In say publicly early years of his continuance, his then-unorthodox camera angles opinion style prevented his work evacuate gaining wider recognition. Kertész not in the least felt that he had gained the worldwide recognition he due. Today he is considered give someone a jingle of the seminal figures shambles 20th century photography.^[1][2]

Expected by top family to work as straight stockbroker, Kertész pursued photography for one`s part as an autodidact, and realm early work was published basically in magazines, a major dispose of in those years. This drawn-out until much later in surmount life, when Kertész stopped knowledge commissions. He served briefly score World War I and prudent to Paris in 1925, for that reason the artistic capital of glory world, against the wishes announcement his family. In Paris forbidden worked for France's first picturesque magazine called VU. Involved get used to many young immigrant artists scold the Dada movement, he consummated critical and commercial success.

Due to German persecution of honesty Jews and the threat invoke World War II, Kertész approved to emigrate to the Unified States in 1936, where operate had to rebuild his status be known through commissioned work. In goodness 1940s and 1950s, he obstructed working for magazines and began to achieve greater international interest. His career is generally unconnected into four periods, based luxurious where he was working turf his work was most notably known. They are called ethics Hungarian period, the French calm, the American period and, go into the end of his humanity, the International period.

Biography

Early discrimination and education

Andor Kertész was clan on 2 July 1894 slash Budapest to the middle-class Someone family of Lipót Kertész, skilful bookseller, and his wife, Ernesztin Hoffmann.^[3] Andor, known as "Bandi" to his friends, was righteousness middle child of three sprouts, including Imre and Jenő. As Lipót died in 1908 overrun tuberculosis, the widowed Ernesztin was without a source of money to support their three descendants. Ernesztin's brother, Lipót Hoffmann, granting for the family and interest much like a father halt the boys. The family before long moved to Hoffman's country affluence in Szigetbecse. Kertész grew enthusiastic in a leisurely pace dear life and pastoral setting range would shape his later being path.^[1][2][4][5]

Hoffman paid for his mid nephew's business classes at integrity Academy of Commerce until jurisdiction 1912 graduation, and arranged enthrone hiring by the stock replace soon after.^[5] Unlike his elder brother Imre, who worked wrap up the exchange in Budapest expulsion all his life, Kertész difficult little interest in the grassland. He was drawn to lucid magazines and to activities develop fishing and swimming in picture Danube River near his uncle's property.

Kertész's first encounters absorb magazine photography inspired him capable learn photography. He was besides influenced by certain paintings gross 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) strengthen 1912,^[5][6] despite his family's protests to continue his career mission business. In his free without fail, he photographed the local peasants, Romani people, and landscape rivalry the surrounding Hungarian Plains (the puszta). His first photograph legal action believed to be Sleeping Salad days, Budapest, 1912.^[4] His photographs were first published in 1917 beckon the magazine Érdekes Újság, via 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 significance age of 20, he was sent to the frontline, spin he took photographs of being in the trenches with orderly lightweight camera (a Goerz Tenax).^[5] Most of these photographs were destroyed during the violence lecture the Hungarian Revolution of 1919. Wounded in 1915 by skilful bullet, Kertész suffered temporary veneration of his left arm.

He was sent for convalescence get on the right side of a military hospital in Budapest, but was later transferred have it in for Esztergom, where he continued halt take photographs. These included dialect trig self-portrait for a competition patent the magazine Borsszem Jankó.^[5][6] Rulership most famous piece of that period was Underwater Swimmer, Esztergom, 1917, the only surviving thought of a series of unembellished swimmer whose image is unvarnished by the water. Kertész explored the subject more thoroughly take back his series of "Distortions" photographs during the early 1930s.^[2][4][6]

Kertész outspoken not heal soon enough express return to combat, and respect peace in 1918, he complementary to the stock exchange.^[5] Everywhere he met his future better half Erzsebet Salomon (later changed realize Elizabeth Saly, also spelled Sali), who also worked at probity exchange. He began to pay one`s addresses to her romantically. During this time of work and throughout monarch whole career, he used Elizabeth as a model for potentate photographs. Kertész also took copious photographs of his brother Jenő. Kertész left his career deed the exchange to try rural work and beekeeping during decency early 1920s. This venture was brief given the political brouhaha that accompanied the revolution existing coming of communism.

After cyclical to the stock exchange, Kertész decided to emigrate, to discover at one of France's natural schools. His mother dissuaded him, and he did not journey for several years. Working around the day at the in trade, he pursued photography the repose of the time.

In 1923, the Hungarian Amateur Photographer's Corporation selected one of his photographs for its silver award, exaggerate the condition that he capture it by the bromoil context. Kertész disliked this, so monstrous down the medal. Instead, closure was given a diploma deprive the association.^[5] On its 26 June 1925, the Hungarian data magazine Érdekes Újság used collective of his photographs for neat cover, giving him widespread promotion. By that time, Kertész was determined to photograph the sights in Paris and join lecturer artistic culture.^[6]

French period

Kertész emigrated joke Paris in September 1925, surrender acceptance behind his mother, his wildcat fiancée Elizabeth, both brothers, flourishing his uncle Hoffman, who spasm 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 besides emigrated to Paris during that period.

Initially Kertész took heap on commissioned work for several Continent magazines, gaining publication of circlet work in Germany, France, Italia and Great Britain. Soon rear 1 arriving in Paris, Kertész deviating his first name to André, which he kept for righteousness rest of his life. Acquit yourself Paris he found critical captain commercial success. In 1927 Kertész was the first photographer reach have a one-man exhibition; Jan Slivinsky presented 30 of coronate photographs at the "Sacre defence Printemps Gallery".^[1][2][5] Kertész had befit connected with members of loftiness growing Dada movement. Paul Dermée dubbed him "Brother Seer" vital "Brother Seeing Eye" during ruler first solo exhibit, alluding merriment a medieval monastery where make a racket the monks were blind prevent one. Over the next existence, 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 aggregate of money during the Ready to step in Depression.^[4]

Kertész and other Hungarian artists formed a synergistic circle; prohibited was featured in exhibits finetune some of them later market his life. Visiting his sculpturer friends, he was fascinated past as a consequence o the Cubism movement. He built photo portraits of painters Piet Mondrian^[7] and Marc Chagall, character writer Colette,^[2] and film-maker Sergei Eisenstein.^[2] In 1928, Kertész switched from using plate-glass cameras finished a Leica.^[6][7] This period show work was one of authority most productive; he was photographing daily, with work divided betwixt magazine commissions through the cool down 1920s and his personal pieces.^[1][2][5] In 1930, at the Exposition Coloniale in Paris, Kertész was awarded a silver medal defend services to photography.^[5]

Kertész was publicised in French magazines such bit Vu and Art et Médecine,^[3] for which his work was used for numerous covers.^[2][5] Enthrone greatest journalistic collaboration was vacate Lucien Vogel, the French redactor and publisher of Vu. Vogel published his work as print essays, letting Kertész report erect various subjects through images. Ethics photographer was intrigued with probity variety of topics assigned inured to Vogel.

In 1933 Kertész was commissioned for the series, Distortion, about 200 photographs of Najinskaya Verackhatz and Nadia Kasine, cardinal models portrayed nude and jagged various poses, with their recollect caught in a combination observe distortion mirrors, similar to straighten up carnival's house of mirrors. Deceive some photographs, only certain end or features were visible lead to the reflection. Some images as well appeared in the 2 Walk issue of the "girly magazine" Le Sourire and in authority 15 September 1933 issue custom Arts et métiers graphiques.^[1][2] Closest that year, Kertész published excellence book Distortions, a collection clamour the work.^[6]

In 1933 Kertész obtainable his first personal book grip photographs, Enfants, dedicated to ruler fiancée Elizabeth and his apathy, who had died that harvest. He published regularly during authority succeeding years.^[2][6]Paris (1934) was over-enthusiastic to his brothers Imre ray 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 celebrated family

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

In 1930, he ventured back quick Hungary to visit his consanguinity. After his return to Town, Elizabeth followed him in 1931, despite opposition by her descent. Elizabeth and André remained standardize for the rest of their lives. Despite his mother's arid in early 1933, Kertész wedded Elizabeth on 17 June 1933. He was said to own acquire spent less time with emperor artist friends in favor break into his new wife.^[1]

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

Pending war

Social and political tensions were ascending in Europe with the young strength in Germany of rectitude Nazi Party. Many magazines emphatic stories about political topics move stopped publishing Kertész because catch the fancy of his apolitical subjects. With ruler commissioned work dropping and ill-treatment of Jews increasing, Kertész turf Elizabeth decided to move take on New York. He was offered work at the Keystone intervention owned by Ernie Prince. Fashionable 1936, Kertész and Elizabeth boarded the SS Washington bound bring forward Manhattan.^[1]

The couple arrived in Pristine York on 15 October 1936, with Kertész intent on judicious fame in America.^[2] They fleeting at the Beaux Arts Breakfast in Greenwich Village.^[5] Kertész difficult life in America more trying than he had imagined, guidelines a period which he late referred to as the "absolute tragedy".^[4] Deprived of his genius friends, he also found lose one\'s train of thought Americans rejected having their kodaks taken on the street. In a little while after his arrival, Kertész approached Beaumont Newhall, director of primacy photographic department at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), who was preparing a show honoured Photography 1839–1937.^[5] Offering Newhall abominable of his Distortions photographs, Kertész bristled at his criticism, on the other hand Newhall did exhibit the photographs.^[6] In December 1937 Kertész difficult to understand his first solo show amount New York at the Head of government Gallery.

The Keystone agency, who had offered him offsite disused, required him to stay intrude the company's studio.^[2] Kertész proven to return to France tolerate visit, but had no medium of exchange. By the time he difficult saved enough, World War II had begun and travel pocket France was nearly impossible. struggles with English compounded coronet problems. Years after learning resting on speak French in Paris, fare was difficult for him give a positive response learn another new language. Illustriousness lack of fluent language further to his feeling like differentiation outsider.^[1][4]

Frustrated, Kertész left Keystone care Prince left the company ploy 1937. He was commissioned vulgar Harper's Bazaar for an thing on the Saks Fifth Access department store in their Apr 1937 issue.^[3] The magazine lengthened to use him in additional issues, and he also took commissions from Town and Country to supplement his income. Vogue invited the photographer to enquiry for the magazine,^[3] but soil declined, believing it was shed tears appropriate work for him. No problem chose to work for Life magazine, starting with a categorize called The Tugboat. Despite give instructions, he photographed more than binding tugboats, including works on position entire harbor and its activities. Life refused to publish rectitude unauthorized photographs. Kertész resented rank constraints on his curiosity.^[4][6]

On 25 October 1938, Look printed top-notch series of Kertész photographs, advantaged A Fireman Goes to School; but credited them mistakenly communication Ernie Prince, his former boss.^[5] Infuriated, Kertész considered never mine with photo magazines again. Coronet work was published in decency magazine Coronet in 1937, on the other hand in 1939 he was unwished for disagreeab when the magazine published organized special issue featuring its "Most memorable photographs". He later unconnected aloof all ties to the periodical and its editor Arnold Gingrich. After being excluded from authority June 1941 issue of Vogue, dedicated to photography, Kertész penurious off relations with them. No problem had contributed to more rather than 30 commissioned photo essays innermost articles in both Vogue explode House and Garden, but was omitted from the list catch the fancy of featured photographers.

In 1941, loftiness Kertész couple were designated importation enemy aliens because of Universe War II (Hungary was scrap on the side of class Axis powers). Kertész was whine permitted to photograph outdoors sudden to have any project associated to national security.^[5] Trying deal with avoid trouble because Elizabeth locked away started a cosmetics company (Cosmia Laboratories), Kertész ceased to put the lid on commissioned work and essentially missed from the photographic world misunderstand three years.^[1][6]

On 20 January 1944, Elizabeth became a US citizen; and Kertész was naturalized indulgence 3 February.^[2][5] Despite competition shun photographers such as Irving Quaker, Kertész regained commissioned work. Significant was omitted from the motion of 63 photographers which Vogue's identified as significant in disloyalty "photographic genealogical tree". But, House and Garden commissioned him substantiate do photographs for a Xmas issue. In addition, in June 1944 László Moholy-Nagy, director supplementary the New Bauhaus – Earth School of Design offered him a position teaching photography. In defiance of the honor, he turned excellence offer down.

In 1945, Kertész released a new book, Day of Paris, made up short vacation photographs taken just before dominion emigration from France. It gained critical success. With his wife's cosmetic business booming, Kertész arranged in 1946 to a enduring, exclusive contract with House obscure Garden. Although it restricted dominion editorial freedom and required patronize hours in the studio, illustriousness pay of at least US$10,000 per annum ($ 156,000 per crop in 2025) was satisfactory. Consummate photographic negatives were returned go on a trip him within six months gather his own use.^[1][6]

Kertész worked inspect the settings of many renowned homes and notable places, by reason of well as overseas, where significant traveled again in England, Budapest and Paris, renewing friendships come first making new ones. During glory 1945–62 period at House instruct Garden, the magazine published very than 3,000 of his photographs, and he created a big reputation in the industry. Handle little time for his secluded work, Kertész felt starved position being able to exercise excellent artistic creativity.^[1][4]

Later life

In 1946, Kertész had a solo exhibition draw on the Art Institute of Port, featuring photographs from his Day of Paris series. Kertész alleged this was one of circlet greatest times in the Combined States.^[5] In 1952, he swallow his wife moved to a-okay 12th-floor apartment at 2 Ordinal Avenue near Washington Square Park,^[8] the setting for some have his best photographs since accepting immigrated to the US. Profit a telephoto lens, he took a series of snow-covered President Square, showing numerous silhouettes weather tracks. In 1955 he was insulted to have his pointless excluded when Edward Steichen's The Family of Man show was featured at MoMA. Despite magnanimity success of the Chicago unearth, Kertész did not gain selection exhibit until 1962, when jurisdiction photographs were shown at Extensive Island University.

Kertész lived inspect 2 Fifth Avenue during class construction and inauguration of primacy former World Trade Center.^[9] Forbidden photographed the Twin Towers be bereaved 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 obscure dispute, and started doing potentate own work again. This subsequent period of his life evolution often referred to as class "International period",^[4] when he gained worldwide recognition and his microfilms were exhibited in many countries. In 1962 his work was exhibited in Venice; in 1963, he was one of integrity invited artists of the IV Mostra Biennale Internazionale della Fotografia there and he was awarded a gold medal for queen dedication to the photographic diligence. Later in 1963, his job was shown in Paris available the Bibliothèque nationale de Writer. He later visited Argentina be against see his younger brother Jenő for the first time crush years.^[6] Kertész experimented with hue photographs, but only produced neat few.

In 1964, soon afterward John Szarkowski became the taking pictures director at the Museum several Modern Art, he featured Kertész in a solo show.^[5] Seam his work critically acclaimed, Kertész gained recognition in the graphic world as an important head. The work of Kertész was featured in numerous exhibitions during the world in his ulterior life, even into his inauspicious nineties. Due to his newfound success, in 1965 Kertész was appointed as a member sequester the American Society of Publicity Photographers.

His awards rapidly increased. In 1974 he received first-class Guggenheim Fellowship; in 1974 soil was awarded Commander of rectitude French Ordre des Arts righthand lane des Lettres; in 1977 unquestionable received the Mayor's Award donation Honor for Arts and Good breeding in New York; in 1980 he received the Medal allowance the City of Paris, nearby the first Annual Award donation the Association of International Taking photographs Art Dealers in New York; and in 1981 he established an honorary Doctorate of Good Arts from Bard College, point of view the New York Mayor's Accolade of Honor for Arts become more intense Culture.

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

Despite his successes, Kertész still felt unrecognised as practised photographer. His last years were spent travelling to various locations around the globe for sovereignty exhibitions, especially Japan, and rekindling friendships with other artists. Be relevant to deal with the loss near his wife in 1977, Kertész fell back on his virgin network of friends, often blight them to talk. By that time, he was said sort out have learned basic English take talked in what his comrades called "Kertészian", a mixture pencil in Hungarian, English and French.^[2][4]

In 1979, the Polaroid Corporation gave him one of their new SX-70 cameras, which he experimented junk into the 1980s. Still young in fame, Kertész was despite the fact that the National Grand Prize insinuate Photography in Paris in 1982, as well as the Twentyone Annual George Washington Award plant the American Hungarian Foundation dignity 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 although a "portrait mosaic."^[12]

Death

Kertész died strike home his sleep at home down tools 28 September 1985; he was cremated and his ashes were interred with those of queen wife.^[2]

Legacy and honors

Critical evaluation

Throughout chief of his career Kertész was depicted as the "unknown soldier" who worked behind the scenes of photography, yet was occasionally cited for his work, unvarying up to his death generate 1985.^[4] Kertész thought himself unrecognized throughout his life, despite cost his life in the incessant search for acceptance and name. Though Kertész received numerous credit for photography, he never mat both his style and disused was accepted by critics elitist art audiences alike. Although, notch 1927, he was the eminent photographer to have a lone exhibition, Kertész said that drop in was not until his 1946 exhibition at the Art Institution of Chicago, that he crowning felt he received positive reviews on his work, and much cites this show as get someone on the blower of his finest moments briefing America. During his stay limit America, he was cited renovation being an intimate artist, delivery the viewer into his be troubled, even when the picture was that of subjects such introduce the intimidating New York City^[15] and even his reproduced occupation printed after his death everyday good reviews; "Kertész was topple all a consistently fine photographer".^[16] Kertész's work itself is much described as predominantly utilising emit and even Kertész himself vocal that "I write with light".^[17] He was never considered get closer "comment" on his subjects, on the other hand rather capture them – that is often cited as reason his work is often overlooked; he stuck to no national agenda and offered no beneath thought to his photographs all over the place than the simplicity of poised. With his art's intimate favouritism and nostalgic tone,^[15] Kertész's carbons copy alluded to a sense slant timelessness which was inevitably inimitable recognised after his death.^[4] Altered other photographers, Kertész's work gave an insight into his being, showing a chronological order senior where he spent his time;^[16] for example, many of coronet French photographs were from cafés where he spent the maturation of his time waiting realize artistic inspiration.^[4]

Although Kertész rarely acknowledged bad reviews, it was magnanimity lack of commentary that discovered to the photographer feeling frost from recognition. Now, however, subside is often considered to produce the father of photojournalism.^[18] Flat other photographers cite Kertész deed his photographs as being inspirational; Henri Cartier-Bresson once said staff him in the early Decade, "We all owe him on the rocks great deal."^[4] When he was 90 years old, a face-to-face asked him why he was still taking photographs. He replied, "I'm still hungry."^[19]

Publications

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

Exhibitions

This list includes material come across Capa et al,^[20] Corkin & Lifson,^[21] Könemann et al,^[23] don 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