LEGENDARY PHOTOGRAPHER FOR HARPER’S BAZAAR AND STRONG INFLUENCE ON CARTIER-BRESSON

MUNKÁCSI, Martin. Style in Motion: Munkácsi Photographs ‘20s, ‘30s, ‘40s. New York: Clarkson N. Potter, (1979). Tall, slim quarto, original mauve cloth, original dust jacket. $225.

First edition of this representative selection of Munkácsi’s work, with 150 full-page halftones, including his famous “Children Running into the Sea.” From the collection of acclaimed photojournalist Peter Turnley.

Fashion photographer Martin Munkácsi’s great contribution was a preferrence for photographing the natural movements of his models, rather than their stationary, artificial poses. As a sports action photographer he is still considered unequalled. In his words, “to see in a thousandth of a second that which the ordinary person passes without notice—this is the theory of photo reporting.” One of Munkácsi’s photographs, taken in 1931, entitled “Children Running into the Sea” (page 59), had a tremendous influence on the young Cartier-Bresson. The fleeting image of bodies at the height of their most dynamic moment can be seen as a forerunner to Cartier-Bresson’s subsequent style. In a letter to Munkácsi’s daughter in 1977, Cartier-Bresson gave him proper credit: “It is that very photograph which was for me the spark that set fire to the fireworks… and made me suddenly realize that photography can reach eternity through the moment. It is the only photograph that influenced me. There is such intensity in that image, such spontaneity, such joie de vivre, such genius, that I am still dazzled by it even today.” Chapnick, 115. From the collection of Peter Turnley, acclaimed photojournalist for Newsweek, Life and Harper’s Magazine, who has covered “almost every important international news event of the last 15 years” (New York Times); signed by Turnley. Additional owner signature.

Interior fine, light sunning to margins of cloth, edge-wear to original dust jacket. A near-fine copy.