Doisneau: Portraits of the Artists - Tapa dura

"Not only do the photographs constitute a documentary of the art-life of Paris at mid-century; they are also beautiful. They are accompanied by reminiscences of Doisneau himself, as well as brief biographies of each artist that are unusually well written." Art & Antiques

An intimate window into the secret lives of more than seventy - five great artists by one of France’s most successful and best-known photographers. During the golden age when Montparnasse was teeming with artists, Robert Doisneau gained remarkable access to the key figures working in Paris from 1937 onwards, and he visited their studios and caught them in various private moments: working, reflecting, and even playing with their children. This book, which includes some previously unpublished photographs, shares Doisneau’s intimate view on the work and lives of these artists. Many remain famous―Picasso, David Hockney, Jasper Johns, Giacometti, Saul Steinberg, Marcel Duchamp, Le Corbusier, Foujita―while others have fallen into obscurity, perhaps one day to be rediscovered. Regardless of the artist’s social status―whether major luminary of the day or struggling newcomer― Doisneau approached each subject with the same humble eye. His signature black-andwhite photographs capture the nostalgia of the period and bear witness to these artists in the act of creating some of the world’s finest art. This book, published in conjunction with Doisneau’s daughters, is a fascinating document of the daily lives of artists by one of the world’s most famous and popular photographers.