✨AI Reimagines the Masters✨ André Kertész|121/1000

type

status

date

slug

summary

Introduce briefly

André Kertész, born Andor Kertész, was a Hungarian-born photographer known for his groundbreaking contributions to photographic composition and the photo essay. He is considered one of the seminal figures of 20th-century photography [1][2]. Kertész's career can be divided into four periods: the Hungarian period, the French period, the American period, and the International period.

Biography:

Early life and education: André Kertész was born on July 2, 1894, in Budapest, Hungary, to a middle-class Jewish family. He grew up in a leisurely pace of life and pastoral setting, which influenced his later career path [1][2].

Hungarian period: Kertész bought his first camera in 1912 and began photographing the local peasants, gypsies, and landscapes of the Hungarian Plains. His distinctive and mature style was already evident in his early work. During World War I, he served in the Austro-Hungarian army and took photographs in the trenches. He was temporarily paralyzed due to a bullet wound. After the war, he returned to the stock exchange but eventually decided to pursue photography. In 1925, he emigrated to Paris [1][2].

French period: In Paris, Kertész found critical and commercial success. He took on commissioned work for European magazines and became connected with the Dada movement. Kertész had his first one-man exhibition in 1927 and switched to using a Leica camera in 1928. This period was one of his most productive, and he photographed daily, both for magazine commissions and personal projects [1][2].

American period: Due to German persecution of Jews and the threat of World War II, Kertész emigrated to the United States in 1936. He had to rebuild his reputation through commissioned work and freelanced for various magazines. From 1962 onwards, he worked under contract to Condé Nast. During this period, his independently produced photographs became more widely accessible, and he gained recognition as one of the most respected photographers in America [2].

International period: Towards the end of his life, Kertész's work gained international recognition. He continued to produce photographs independently and his work became more widely exhibited and celebrated [1].