After the Two World Wars, the center of cultural modernity shifted to New York and the United States. However, Paris continued to shine with its aura and remained a key player in all artistic fields, particularly photography. This is the second and final part of our article dedicated to 10 Parisian photographers (see “10 Parisian Photographers (Part 1)”), all of whom were either born or worked in the Paris region during their careers.
Studio Harcourt
Studio Harcourt was founded in 1931 by Colette Harcourt, Robert Ricci (son of fashion designer Nina Ricci), and press figures Jacques and Jean Lacroix. They specialized in black-and-white portrait photography with a highly recognizable style that made their name famous: subjects are captured from their best angle, highlighted by strong contrasts inspired by German Expressionist cinema.
Stars of literature, music, fashion, film, and theater all posed before their lens. The studio is still active today, you’ve very likely seen one of their iconic portraits.
Henri Cartier-Bresson
Dedicated to black-and-white, Cartier-Bresson was initially influenced by Surrealism, something still visible in his evocative and poetic compositions. After the war, he co-founded the New York-based Magnum Photos agency, advocating for photographers’ rights. His fellow co-founders shared his humanist approach to photography, which focused on the human subject.
This marked the beginning of his photojournalistic career, documenting India, China, and Russia for major magazines such as Life and Paris Match.
He is best known for his concept of the “decisive moment”: the idea that a street photographer must be ready to capture the perfect moment.
When in Paris, don’t hesitate to visit the Fondation Cartier-Bresson, which regularly hosts outstanding exhibitions of photographers from around the world (currently featuring American photographer Richard Avedon, a Vogue collaborator).
Robert Doisneau
Robert Doisneau is one of the most well-known photographers of the 20th century worldwide. Like Cartier-Bresson, he belonged to the humanist photography movement, blending poetic realism with a taste for anecdote.
His photographs tell small, charming, often stereotypical stories, resembling nostalgic postcards. He contributed to major publications such as Le Point, Paris Match, Life, and Vogue, and was a member of the Group of XV, defending photography as an art form.
Hervé Guibert
An icon of the gay movement, Hervé Guibert was born and lived in Paris. He was the lover of philosopher Michel Foucault and maintained a literary correspondence with Roland Barthes. Guibert contributed to the cultural section of Le Monde, publishing articles on photography and cinema.
Like his intense and often tormented literary work, over 30 semi-autobiographical short novels, his prolific photographic practice explores themes of intimacy, poetry, and violence. Many of his works are nude self-portraits with dark, morbid staging.
He died by suicide at age 36 after being diagnosed with AIDS.
Renaud Monfourny
Founding member and long-time portrait photographer for Les Inrockuptibles, Renaud Monfourny has produced iconic images of rock legends (Nirvana, Patti Smith, Morrissey…), prominent writers (from William Burroughs to Michel Houellebecq and Marguerite Duras), and cinema greats (from Woody Allen to Audrey Tautou and Jim Jarmusch).
Explore his career in the fascinating interview-based book published by Mediapop Editions.
Tips for Photography Enthusiasts
Are you passionate about photography? You’ll find excellent exhibitions in Paris at:
- Maison Européenne de la Photographie (MEP)
- Le BAL
- Galerie Daniel Templon (often showcasing pop artists like Pierre et Gilles)
- Galerie Les Douches
And if you’re in Arles in the South of France, don’t miss the famous Rencontres Photographiques d’Arles, one of the oldest and most prestigious photography festivals in the world. Founded in 1970 by photographer Lucien Clergue and writer Michel Tournier, the festival offers an affordable pass to access around 40 exhibitions across the city. It runs throughout the summer, from June to September.
Treat Yourself to a Photo Shoot in the Most Beautiful Locations in Paris
- Outdoor photo sessions
- Romantic couple shoots in Paris
- Bachelorette party (EVJF) memories
- Children’s portrait sessions
Now it’s your turn to explore the work of these 10 Parisian photographers, and many more!
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