Special Collections Staff Picks

Source: Stuart Wright Book Collection Printed Works Inventory #46-18

Staff Person: Ralph Scott

Description: Henri Cartier-Bresson [1908-2004] was a French photographer that pioneered modern photojournalism. Early to try the new 35mm Leica format, Cartier-Bresson is famous for his street scene photographs and portraits of individuals. He felt that the new compact camera format enabled him to stroll the streets ready to “trap life,” on film. This candid of Richard Eberhart [1904-2005] an American poet who won the 1966 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry, is attributed to Henri Cartier-Bresson. Cartier-Bresson travelled to the United States several times and moved in literary circles throughout the world. His first American show was in 1935, at the New York Julien Levy Gallery. At some point his path crossed with that of Eberhart. The photograph was found in a volume recently acquired by Joyner Library through purchase from Eberhart’s literary agent, Stuart Wright.

Posted by Ralph Scott under Stuart Wright Collection, photographs and Tags: Henri Cartier-Bresson, Leica, Richard Eberhart