Week 17 - 2020
Henri Cartier-Bresson, The Decisive Moment, 1952 (Photo: Ana Gonçalves). Preus museum library/bookcollection.
Stolen images in bound form
This week's image is a picture of a book, photographed by Preus museums photographer Ana Gonçalves. It is also a picture of a drawing made by the french artist Henri Matisse (1869-1954). The book is incredibly meaningful in the history of photobooks. It was published by Henri Cartier-Bresson (1908-2004), a photographer known to emphasise the crucial moments within the photography. This specific moment is referring to the act of capturing a fleeting and spontaneous event, where the image is left behind as an expression for the event itself.
In 1952 Cartier-Bresson published the book Images à la sauvette, which can be translated to «stolen images», but the english edition was given the title The Decisive Moment. The book encomapsses a portfolio of 126 images, as well as a philosophical essay written by Cartier-Bresson. The 23rd of April every year World Book Day is commemorated in order to praise books and authors, as well as encourage people to seek out the pleasurable experience of reading. On this occasion we think it is nice that we focus on a photo book that genuinely inspires viewing pleasure and reflection.
The act of looking through a photo book is like a personal and intimate art- or cultural experience. This is one of the nice things about photo books. You have the ability to choose which image you want to see first. Do you start at the back of the book, or do you just leaf through from the middle, or from that page that opened itself up first? What image will you be «standing in front of» and dwell at? What moment catches your attention?
Right now, this book of ours is a bit worn. The dust jacket adorns a few smudges on its front cover, as well as a torn spine. Otherwise, it's in good condition. It’s stored carefully inside a glass cabinet, but we do have a newer edition for you to view when time allows it. Right now, you’ll just have to be contented with its beautiful cover. But, if you’d like a closer look at this edition of the book, you can follow Preus Museums Couch Viewing on Facebook and Instagram on the 30th of April, 2020.