The Easel

3rd December 2019

André Kertész : Walking in the picture

Even ahead of Cartier-Bresson, Kertész was the pioneer of modern photography.  His innovations included street photography, photo essays and photojournalism. After becoming prominent in Paris, a 1936 move to New York led to career doldrums until “rediscovery” in 1964. Kertész’ revered work was uniformly brilliant, “a very personal and gentle curiosity about the moment.” Video (5 min) and images are here.

“John Singer Sargent: Portraits in Charcoal” at The Morgan Library & Museum, New York

Sargent’s oil portraits brought him fame and fortune, but they took work. By 1907, after more than a thousand of them, he had had enough. Charcoal drawings were a compromise – single sitting pieces that would mollify insistent clients. Quick these pieces may have been, but they are portraiture “at its finest … [that] discloses and elaborates upon the human spirit.” More images are here.