Robert Doisneau, credit: Bracha L. Ettinger via wikipedia
Robert Doisneau was a French photographer born April 14, 1912 in Gentilly, France, and died April 1, 1994 in Montrouge. He is known for his photographs of daily life in Paris and for his ability to capture spontaneous and authentic moments.
He started his career working as an industrial photographer, but quickly developed an interest in street photography. His images often reflect a tender and humorous look at urban life, highlighting small scenes of everyday life that often go unnoticed.
A humanist photographer
Robert Doisneau was one of the eminent members of humanist photography in France. This art movement, which emerged after World War II, focused on capturing human emotions and experiences in photography.
Alongside other great photographers such as Henri Cartier-Bresson, Willy Ronis and Brassai, Doisneau helped shape the style and ideals of humanist photography. They all sought to document the reality of everyday life, especially on the streets of Paris, and to reveal the beauty and dignity of ordinary people.
Humanist photography was distinguished by its spontaneous and unposed approach. Photographers in this movement sought to capture authentic, often fleeting moments that reflected the human condition and the interactions between people and their environment.
For Doisneau, photography was a way of witnessing life as it is, with its joys, its sorrows and its moments of grace. He believed in the ability of the photographic image to tell stories and convey emotions.
The beginnings
He studied graphic arts at the École Estienne and obtained his diploma in engraver and lithographer in 1929.
In October 1929, he joined Léon Ullmann's studio as a letter designer. It was there that he met Lucien Chauffard, head of the studio's photographic studio. The latter introduced him to photography and directed him to André Vigneau, who was looking for an assistant in the fall of 1931. It was with Vigneau that Doisneau discovered the New Photographic Objectivity. The same year, he met Pierrette Chaude-maison, whom he married three years later.
In 1932, he sold his first photographic report, which was published in Excelsior.
In 1934, Lucien Chauffard introduced him to the head of the photographic department of the automobile manufacturer Renault in Boulogne-Billancourt, who hired him as an industrial photographer. However, due to repeated delays and after attempting to rig his scorecards, he was fired five years later, in 1939.
Thanks to Lucien Chauffard, Doisneau met the photographer Ergy Landau shortly before the start of the Second World War. She introduced him to Charles Rado, founder of the Rapho agency. His first report, devoted to canoeing in the Dordogne, was interrupted by the declaration of war and the general mobilization.
Unemployed now, Doisneau is trying to become a freelance photographer and illustrator. He became one of the most prolific contributors to the artistic and literary magazine Le Point, founded in 1936 by Pierre Betz and the art publisher Pierre Braun. It was for this review that he made his first portraits of Picasso, Braque and Paul Léautaud.
The post-war years
After the Second World War, Robert Doisneau became a freelance photographer by officially joining the Rapho agency in 1946.
He then embarked on the production and production of numerous photographic reports on various subjects such as Parisian news, popular Paris, regional and international subjects (USSR, United States, Yugoslavia, etc.). Some of his reports will be published in magazines such as Life, Paris Match, Réalités, Point de vue, Regards, etc.
In 1947, Robert Doisneau joined the Groupe des XV alongside René-Jacques, Willy Ronis and Pierre Jahan. The same year, he met Robert Giraud at the antique dealer Romi, marking the beginning of a long friendship and a fruitful collaboration. Doisneau will publish around thirty albums, including "La Banlieue de Paris" (Seghers, 1949) with texts by Blaise Cendrars. In 1949, he notably produced a staging of the cross of the Gospel of Paris with the actress Nicole Courcel.
From 1948 to 1953, he worked as a permanent collaborator for Vogue. He is also friends with Jacques Yonnet, and his photographs illustrate the famous work "Enchantements sur Paris" (Denoël, 1954) which became "La Ville des maléfices" (Biblio).
The photographer makes many escapades in Limousin. His childhood in Corrèze, as well as his stays in Saint-Céré in the Lot, from the 1930s to 1991, nourished his inspiration.
In 1992, Doisneau presented a retrospective of his works at Modern Art Oxford, which would be his last exhibition during his lifetime. In 1994, the Rencontres d'Arles festival paid tribute to him with a special exhibition.
Robert Doisneau devoted himself mainly to Paris, its suburbs and its inhabitants, capturing every moment of their lives: craftsmen, bistros, tramps, street children, street artists, and many others. Lovers occupy a special place in his work, notably with the famous photograph "Lovers with oranges, rue Mazarine". For nearly half a century, he recorded thousands of portraits of the little people of Paris.
His wife Pierrette died in 1993, suffering from Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease.
Robert Doisneau died six months later, at the age of 81, on April 1, 1994, in Montrouge. He rests in Raizeux, near Rambouillet, alongside his wife.
The main works of Doisneau
"Le Baiser de l'Hôtel de Ville" (1950): This iconic photograph shows a couple kissing passionately in the middle of a crowd in Paris. It symbolizes love and romance in an urban environment.
"Le Tugeur du Champ de Mars" (1943): This photograph shows a little boy gazing in fascination at a tugboat in the Champ de Mars in Paris. She captures the wonder and innocence of childhood.
"Les Amoureux de la rue de Rivoli" (1950): This image represents a couple walking hand in hand, with a crowd of passers-by around them. It embodies tenderness and intimacy at the heart of urban life.
"The Pigeon" (1957): This photograph depicts a man, dressed in an elegant suit, with a pigeon resting on his hand. She captures the balance between nature and man, as well as a certain poetry of everyday life.
"The Children of the World" (1952): This series of photographs highlights children from different countries, showing their innocence and their cultural diversity.
"The Pianist of the Seine" (1953): This photograph shows a man playing the piano on the banks of the Seine, with passers-by stopping to listen to him. It represents passion and artistic expression in the public space.
"Le Joueur de flûte" (1949): This image captures a musician playing the flute in a street in Paris, with children surrounding him. She conveys the magic and wonder of music.
"The Kiss at the Hôtel de Ville" (1953): This photograph shows a couple kissing in front of the Hôtel de Ville in Paris, but this time with a mirror effect. It offers a new perspective on one of Doisneau's most iconic images.
The influences of Doisneau
- Culture: Doisneau's photographs, notably "Le Baiser de l'Hôtel de Ville", have become icons of popular culture. They have been reproduced on posters, postcards and other media, and are often associated with the romantic image of Paris. These images have also inspired songs, poems and literary works that evoke the charm and romance of the French capital.
- Advertising: Advertisers have used Doisneau's photographs to promote a variety of products. For example, the famous photograph "Le Baiser de l'Hôtel de Ville" has been used in advertisements for perfume, jewelry and clothing brands, to evoke love, passion and elegance. These visual references to the work of Doisneau added a romantic and timeless dimension to advertising campaigns.
- Television and cinema: Film directors and creators of television series have used the aesthetic of Doisneau to recreate the atmosphere of the post-war period and the charm of Paris. For example, in the film "Amélie Poulain" by Jean-Pierre Jeunet, Doisneau's work served as a source of inspiration to create a nostalgic and poetic atmosphere. Images of Paris captured by Doisneau have also been used in documentaries and TV shows to illustrate the city's history and heritage.
- Design and fashion: Doisneau's timeless aesthetic has inspired fashion designers and creators in their collections. His photographs influenced the creation of retro clothing, patterns inspired by the atmosphere of the 1950s and Parisian-style decorations. Her sense of style and elegant portrayal of city life have been adapted into fashion shows and visual stagings to create an atmosphere that is both nostalgic and contemporary.
Quotes from Robert Doisneau
"I really liked photographing people, seeing them in their element, in their work, in their daily life. That's where you can really capture their truth."
"The important thing is to find a subject that touches you, that speaks to you. That's where the magic happens."
"Photography is a fragment of time that will never come back."
"The truth is, I don't seek perfection in my photography. I simply seek to capture emotion and authenticity."
"Photography is a way of speaking without speaking, of telling stories without words."
"The secret of photography is to seize the present moment, to capture the emotion that escapes, to freeze the ephemeral."
"I am a witness of everyday life, an observer of the little scenes that make up the big picture of existence."
"To photograph is to put the head, the eye and the heart on the same line of sight."
"Photographs are memories frozen in time, pieces of history that tell of our humanity."
"Photography is a way of saying 'yes' to life, of celebrating the beauty and poetry that hide in the simplest moments."
10 incongruous things to know about Robert Doisneau
Doisneau began his career as a studio photographer specializing in advertising and industrial photography before turning to street photography.
Contrary to certain received ideas, the famous photograph "Le Baiser de l'Hôtel de Ville" was staged by Doisneau with actors and not a real couple of lovers.
Doisneau had a passion for motorcycles and owned a Harley-Davidson, which inspired some of his motorcycle-themed photography.
He was an active member of the French Resistance during World War II and used his skills as a photographer to document clandestine activities.
Doisneau was a great lover of jazz music. He enjoyed listening to jazz while working in his studio and some of his portraits of jazz musicians have become iconic.
In addition to photography, Doisneau was also passionate about engraving and lithography, and he graduated as an engraver and lithographer.
He was known for his sense of humor and liked to play tricks. He sometimes had fun making pranks during photo shoots to lighten the mood.
Although famous for his black and white photographs, Doisneau also experimented with color at a time when color photography was still emerging.
Despite his fame, Doisneau was a modest man and preferred to stay in the background, avoiding the fires of fame and concentrating on his work.
After his death, thousands of never-before-seen negatives were discovered in his studio, revealing the extent of his work and artistic exploration beyond his most famous photographs.
Robert Doisneau's major exhibitions
Exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago (1954): Doisneau mounted a solo exhibition of his photographs at the prestigious Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago. This allowed his work to be widely recognized and appreciated in the United States.
Guest of honor at the Rencontres d'Arles (1975): In 1975, Doisneau was guest of honor at the famous Rencontres d'Arles festival in France. A retrospective exhibition of his work was presented there, highlighting his most emblematic photographs.
Exhibition at Modern Art Oxford (1992): Doisneau presented a retrospective of his works at Modern Art Oxford in England. This exhibition offered the British public the opportunity to discover the extent of his talent and his work.
Exhibition at the Museum of Photography of Charleroi (1993): The Museum of Photography of Charleroi in Belgium devoted an exhibition to Robert Doisneau, highlighting his influence and his contribution to the history of photography.
Exhibition at the Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris (2000): A major retrospective exhibition was organized at the Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris, offering a comprehensive view of Doisneau's career and his impact on the photography.
Nicolas Sarazin