Robert Doisneau

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Robert Doisneau (April 14, 1912 - April 1, 1994) was a French photographer noted for his frank and often humorous depictions of Parisian street life.

Among his most recognizable work is Le baiser de l'hôtel de ville ("Kiss by the Hotel de Ville"), a photo of a couple kissing in the busy streets of Paris. The original print of this iconic image was sold for 155,000 euros by Françoise Bornet, the woman in the photograph, at an auction in April 2005. Bornet and her then boyfriend Jacques Carteaud posed for the seemingly spontaneous photo in 1950.

Doisneau's work gives unusual prominence and dignity to children's street culture; returning again and again to the theme of children at play in the city, unfettered by parents. His work treats their play with seriousness and respect.

[edit] Biography

• 1912 Born in Gentilly, Val-de-Marne
• 1929 Graduated from lithography school l'Ecole Estienne in Chantilly
• 1930 Camera assistant to sculptor André Vigneau
• 1932 First photo story in Excelsior (French magazine)
• 1934-39 Publicity photographer for Renault; fired for truancy
• 1939 Drafted into the French army ("la Résistance") during World War II, where he acted as a soldier, photographer and printer
• 1946 Joined the Rapho photo agency
• 1949-52 Photographer for French Vogue
• 1992 Retrospective at the Museum of Modern Art, Oxford
• 1994 Died in Montrouge

Even though Doisneau is dead, he still has exhibions in Paris and other cities too

[edit] External links

• Robert Doisneau: Seconds Snatched from Eternity A short biography and collection of Doisneau photographs.
• Doisneau's 'Kiss' sells for nearly a quarter million dollars
• BBC News report on the auction of Le baiser de l'hôtel de ville