Henri Matisse, Vence, France

Accession Number
1999/1.97

Title
Henri Matisse, Vence, France

Artist(s)
Henri Cartier-Bresson

Artist Nationality
French (culture or style)

Object Creation Date
1944, printed later

Medium & Support
gelatin silver print on paper

Dimensions
11 5/8 in x 17 5/8 in (29.5 cm x 44.8 cm);9 1/16 in x 11 1/4 in (23 cm x 28.5 cm)

Credit Line
Museum purchase made possible by the W. Hawkins Ferry Fund


Subject matter
Henri Cartier-Bresson is known for “the decisive moment,” the fleeting time in which a photographer must make an instantaneous decision. Bresson began photographing seriously in 1930, acquiring a Leica, which was used throughout his career photographing some of the 20th century’s most important events. Bresson co-founded Magnum Photos with Robert Capa, David Seymour, and George Rodger. After 1970, Bresson turned to drawing, photographing only occasionally. This photograph of Henri Matisse is one of many taken the same day. This image shows Matisse resting on a chair, holding a bird in his hand. Three pigeons stand on a cage in the foreground.

Physical Description
A photograph of an elderly man in an interior space. In the foreground, three pigeons sit on top of a large cage. The man holds a fourth bird and another cage sits behind him.

Primary Object Classification
Photograph

Collection Area
Photography

Rights
If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit http://umma.umich.edu/request-image for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.

Keywords
Birds
France
artists (visual artists)
birdcages (containers)
book
glasses
interior spaces (spaces by location)
interiors
males
pigeons (general term)
reading
seated
sketching
table
window

& Author Notes

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