THE EXHIBITION
PAUL STRAND, THE BALANCE OF FORCES
Fondation Henri Cartier-Bresson
February 14 – April 23, 2023
While Paul Strand (1890–1976) is often celebrated as the pioneer of straight photography, this exhibition at the Fondation Henri Cartier-Bresson explores the deeply political dimension of his work.
An heir to two major photographic traditions—often seen as opposed—Strand combined a formalist approach that asserted photography as an art form with a socially engaged perspective that used photography as a documentary tool serving political ends.
Strand remains one of the 20th century’s most influential photographers precisely because he mastered the balance between these two forces.
From early 20th-century America to Egypt, Mexico, Morocco, Sicily, and rural France, Strand elevated the often difficult daily lives of those who rarely had a voice. His iconic 1951 portrait of a young, defiant French man stands as a striking example.
Location:
Fondation Henri Cartier-Bresson
79 rue des Archives, Paris 3ᵉ