Who? Founded in 1947, by Henri Cartier Bresson, Robert Capa, George Rodger and David Seymour, the Magnum group has made an indisputably vital contribution to the progression of photography. Not simply because they bestowed on the world a stunning documentation of the 20th century, but because of how the works were seen. The cooperative made the photographers the exclusive owners of their own works; images which gracefully merged art with journalism, and have so far captured almost 80 years of Paris.
Place de l'Europe. Gare Saint Lazare, 1932 by Henri Cartier-Courtesy of Magnum Photos
What? 150 shots from 30 photographers, Paris Magnum – at Paris City Hall until March 28 – presents a touching love letter to a city which has witnessed both jubilance and struggle in equal measure. Particularly poignant is Bruno Barbey’s photo of the student riots of May 1968. “There was an urgency to communicate, to talk to each other, to challenge everything,” he noted. “It was the rebellion of a generation against what society had planned for it, against everything which came from above.”
Boulevard St. Michel, night between the 10th and the 11th ofCourtesy of Magnum Photos
Robert Capa’s French flag gracefully billowing under the Arc de Triomphe brings a sense of relief.While a woman walking in a mini skirt, courtesy of Raymond Depardon, captures the everyday magic Paris is celebrated for.
Arc de Triomphe, 1952 by Robert CapaCourtesy of Magnum Photos
Why? The exhibition marks the key moments in the history of Paris, providing viewers with a rich impression of its transformation over the years. Whenever a news story erupted, a Magnum photographer was there to witness it. In fact, David Seymour’s contribution to the collective unwittingly began long before it was established; his famous shot of strikers at the Saint-Ouent metalwork factory was taken 11 years prior to Magnum's foundation.
Town of Saint-Ouen, 1936 by David SeymourCourtesy of Magnum Photos
Paris Magnum is at Paris City Hall until March 28.
