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Here is an exhibition that I hope to see this spring, and if you are any where near Tours, in France, that I highly recommend.
Jacques Henri Lartigue started taking photos at the age of 8, but it wasn’t until he was 69 years old, on a boat heading for New York, that his photo albums were discovered. He became an overnight star with an exhibition at the Musuem of Modern Art, and his photos published in Life magazine.
He took photos because he wanted to be a witness of his time; to record the passing by, to capture the moment.
He loved to portray motion in his pictures and took many photos of people jumping, riding bikes, diving. But above all he loved to portray women, in particular Renee above, who was his muse for many years.
I love the essential Frenchness of his vision and I am astounded by how modern his pictures appear, although many date back to the 20’s and 30’s.
Lartigue admitted that he just wanted people to love him …. for his photos, or for his painting or just for him …… and who has never felt like that?!
No more comments, I hope you enjoy …
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1894-1986 Jacques Henri Lartigue
42 comments
Sharon, As we live very close to Tours, I had the opportunity to see the exhibit this past weekend with a friend. It was so enjoyable. He had the ability to capture such joy in his subjects in a variety of situations. In the depth of winter it was like a breath of spring.
thank you Keir – were there loads of visitors to the show?
xx
The exhibit was very quiet. A few other individuals and a small group enjoying a guided tour were the only others on the Saturday afternoon.
Oh those images are gorgeous…
I adore the one of the woman in that beautiful hat sitting by the window by the sea.
I am impressed with his photos and the romantic poetic mood he evokes. I wonder what he did for a living and if he married his muse.
You are right that these seem like poses we expect to see today but at that time would have been well outside the normal bounds. It's always so interesting to see the earlier 'dabbles' in something new; things that we see as usual but there was always a first. These really are interesting and I love the early motion ones. Imagine the equipment he was likely to have been using, and to get the timing just perfect. No taking 8 frames/sec on a digital camera to get the shot!
These are great!
Jen.
That first photo…just proves that simple, clean lines are the best. That outfit could still be worn today, finished off with that cuff…talk about French style!
That exhibition, I would love to see… xv
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Black and white photos seem to be timeless. I especially like the first one. I'm sure the exhibit will be wonderful.
Jacques Henri Lartigue is my favourite photographer, I would love to see this exhibition. I was fortunate to see an exhibition of his last year of previously unpublished photographs, what can I say they were magnificent, you would have loved them, he was way ahead of his time.
X
Lartique is a master. His images are works of art
Helenx
I like your blog , beautyfull ladies , keep update please
A picture is worth a thousand words. Exquisitely fascinating and wonderful. Thank you for sharing this priceless group of photos Sharon. XO
Brilliant post Sharon JHL's images of women are timeless and take my breath away, he has such a gentle and open face what a special man! thanks for the post xxCarla
Beautiful, I knew and love his work.
I know nothing about his work; thank you for the introduction. Stunning photos; reminds me of portraits of my auntie from that era…she wore her hair with the same wave, a similar look to the face…and the cut of the clothes, something in the natural and elegant fabrics, was really unparalleled (don't you just love the drape; the looseness; so freeing from heretofore "Victorianesque" confines of high-neck collars, buttoned-down long sleeves, stiff and bony corsets, ankle-length skirts/hoops, etc.). Adore the image of lady-in-hat, sitting at table with a view of the sea. It's how I might picture a well-heeled Brit, maybe of the peerage, vacationing at the turn of the last century in a gorgeous Italian villa on Lake Como.
Me too! Capturing the moment!
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He married his first muse Bibi, but not the second Renée I believe.
There is a lovely shot that I didn't include here Jen, of his cousin jumping down stairs, … glad you liked them
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YOu are right Linda, I think these pictures are at once timeless and yet firmly evocative of a certain period – I don't know how he did that!
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An easy stop over between Paris and the south Vicki 🙂
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I alos have a fondness for black and white, especially portraits
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Funny Dash, as I was putting this post together, I thought it is exactly the sort of thing you love!
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so glad you enjoyed them Colleen, thank you for stopping by
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thank you Carla, yes that portrait of him is lovely, the sort of chap we'd all like to know!
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I totolly agree Vicki, it could be Lake Como. Lartigue obviously spent a lot of time with friends in all the right places, and as you point out, wearing the right things
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Thank you Sharon for sharing these wonderful photos. I'm not sure if this is a quote or just a saying, but for me it fits perfectly 'A picture is worth a thousand words' Especially the lady wearing the elegant hat, sitting at the table, I wonder, was she waiting for someone & not wanting to be seen ? or maybe she was just thinking??
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Well, I'll just miss, by a day or so, this exhibition, Sharon. My show opens in Tours a week after the Lartigue show comes down. Darn.
Just for the record (and in more-than-partial explanation of why/how my thoroughly American tail gets to have a show there every June?)…..the family house is just outside of Tours, and my indefatigable mother-in-law (who's a lot more ambitious regarding my prospects than I happen to be) sits on the board of about twenty different civic and artistic organizations. With the exception of one visit when she was ill, I've never seen her when she wasn't darting in and out of the house, going to or coming from at least two meetings every day/night. I should emphasize that both she and my father-in-law (who stays similarly over-subscribed by my markedly undemanding standards) are SUPPOSED to be "retired".
I got a bumper sticker at an athletic-store a couple of years ago which read "I LIVE to Run!"
Herve added, in magic-marker (and at the end of that peppy declaration) "Things!". We put it on her car's bumper on one of our last days there, but it was gone the next time we visited.
No one's mentioned it since, but I expect she saw it.
Level Best as Ever,
David Terry
http://www.davidterryart.com
Wonderful photos and interesting post! Thank you for sharing,
OMG, I adore Henri Lartigue and have several of his books!
I especially love his photos on the French Riviera.
I'm so jealous of his show and would give anything to attend. I'm happy you will be able to go Sharon. Enjoy it for the both of us!!
Much love,
Terri
Hello Sharon,
I wasn't aware of Lartigue's work before now, and thank you for bringing the work of this very talented man to my attention! Captivating photographs…….worth planning a trip to Tours around his exhibition I think! He himself has a sweet face with very gentle eyes.
Sophia
He has been a favorite of mine + sorry I won't be around for his show. Thanks for giving show dates. xxpeggybraswelldesign.com
lovely…..smiles
Stunning, and very inspirational!!
Truly luscious…thanks for sharing <3 Gabi
Perhaps Tours is next on our list?
I adore these photographs. Thank you for sharing.
xo
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