Artworks

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ANDRÉ KERTÉSZ (Hungarian, 1894 - 1985)

Throughout his extensive career, Kertész was known for his ability to create lyrical images infused with wit and insight. While not strictly a surrealist or a traditional photojournalist, he merged wry humor and a keen eye for the decisive moment with the modernist formal aesthetic. Kertész captured the essence of everyday life, expressing both his fascination with Parisian urban scenes and his sense of detachment while wandering the streets of New York. In his later years, he revisited basic theme ( life, love, loss) through Polaroid photography.

Kertész began his photographic journey in his late teens. In 1925, he moved to Paris to pursue his dreams, establishing himself as a successful photojournalist and collaborating with notable figures like Fernand Léger, Piet Mondrian, and Constantin Brâncuși. Relocating to New York in 1936 to advance his career, Kertész cemented his status as a monumental figure in fine art photography. By the time of his death in 1985, he had received numerous awards and had been the subject of many solo exhibitions worldwide.

Kertész's work is held in permanent collections around the world, including the Art Institute of Chicago; Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh; Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington D.C.; George Eastman House, Rochester; Getty Center, Los Angeles; International Center for Photography, New York; Los Angeles County Museum of Art; Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York; Museu d'Art Contemporani de Barcelona, Spain; Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles; Museum of Fine Arts Houston; Museum of Photographic Arts, San Diego; National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa; National Museum of Modern Art Tokyo, Japan; and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.