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Robert Doisneau
Robert Doisneau (1912-1994) is best known for his magical, timeless 35mm street portraits taken in Paris and its suburbs. Fresh, unstaged, and full of poetry and humor, his photographs portray everyday people (in everyday places, doing everyday things) frozen in time, unwittingly revealing fleeting personal emotions in a public context. Doisneau's gift was the ability to seek out and capture, with humanity and grace, those little epiphanies of everyday Parisian life.
This book traces Doisneau's life and career, providing a wonderful introduction to the work of this seminal photographer.
This book traces Doisneau's life and career, providing a wonderful introduction to the work of this seminal photographer.
194 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 1992
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
February 4, 2017
Paris, mon amour!
Sometimes when I feel like Atlas carrying the weight of the sky on my shoulders, I call for Hercules:
"Hey, Hercules, come and carry this for a while, I'll get you a delicious apple when I return!"
Hercules, crazy for apples, takes the weight from my shoulders, and I sneak out to have a break.
Where?
Where, but in a Paris captured in pictures, can you feel truly weightless? Where, but in a humorous, talented, storytelling photographer's labour of love can you find relief from the world full of fake news, aggression and stupidity?
Open the collection of Doisneau's famous Paris impressions, and you will see the world with his eyes, brimming with love for detail and situation. Next after Daumier: 1808-1879, he is the most inspiring chronicler of Paris in my imagination. Each photograph tells a story that you can fill in with your own ideas, adding dialogue and context to the atmosphere of a moment full of life caught with the camera.
My favourite sequence of pictures is a secret study of the human condition, and I wish I could read the minds of the people captured in the photographs without knowing it. The photographer must have had the time of his life. The setting is perfect. A shop window, a painting with an interesting topic, and the reaction of the passers-by, documented for eternity by the hiding artist.
I could spend hours with the collection of photographs, but I have to buy an apple at the corner shop now and hurry back to relieve Hercules. He can't carry the weight of the sky forever. As a true superhero, he has other tasks waiting. But it is good to know, in times like these, where to go for a break from the far too real facts!
Sometimes when I feel like Atlas carrying the weight of the sky on my shoulders, I call for Hercules:
"Hey, Hercules, come and carry this for a while, I'll get you a delicious apple when I return!"
Hercules, crazy for apples, takes the weight from my shoulders, and I sneak out to have a break.
Where?
Where, but in a Paris captured in pictures, can you feel truly weightless? Where, but in a humorous, talented, storytelling photographer's labour of love can you find relief from the world full of fake news, aggression and stupidity?
Open the collection of Doisneau's famous Paris impressions, and you will see the world with his eyes, brimming with love for detail and situation. Next after Daumier: 1808-1879, he is the most inspiring chronicler of Paris in my imagination. Each photograph tells a story that you can fill in with your own ideas, adding dialogue and context to the atmosphere of a moment full of life caught with the camera.
My favourite sequence of pictures is a secret study of the human condition, and I wish I could read the minds of the people captured in the photographs without knowing it. The photographer must have had the time of his life. The setting is perfect. A shop window, a painting with an interesting topic, and the reaction of the passers-by, documented for eternity by the hiding artist.
I could spend hours with the collection of photographs, but I have to buy an apple at the corner shop now and hurry back to relieve Hercules. He can't carry the weight of the sky forever. As a true superhero, he has other tasks waiting. But it is good to know, in times like these, where to go for a break from the far too real facts!
August 2, 2017
I am utterly in love with his work.
November 9, 2020
One of the best photography works ever.
December 29, 2018
رابرا دوانو یکی از بزرگترین عکسان جهان بوده(در کنار کارتیه برسون)بیشتر شهرتش واسه عکاسی خیابانی هست.(چیزی که خودم عاشقشم)
معروفترین عکسش هم که "بوسه در کنار هتل دووییل" هست که یکی از معروفترین بوسه های جهان شده
..
معروفترین عکسش هم که "بوسه در کنار هتل دووییل" هست که یکی از معروفترین بوسه های جهان شده
..
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April 18, 2022I quite liked it; the accompaying essays are not bad, some of the photos (see: The Helicopters https://www.artsy.net/artwork/robert-... gave me a good giggle, most of them were simply touching. I hope my daughter likes them, too.
November 16, 2015
Utprovning av material till konceptet Kulturtisdag med Cam; Culture, Civilisation & Conversation, med alla nivåer i franska. Har alltid gillat Doisneau. "Dactylo" har jag själv haft som fransk glosa back in the days.
December 2, 2019
Simply stunning work! A genius photographer.
January 3, 2010
I'd never seen anything but the cover image of this artist, but my Dad admired his work and gave me this book. The images are stunning.
April 21, 2023
Absolutely fantastic
I always knew about the guy but reading about him and seeing the best of his work definitely gave me more inspiration for taking more pics
I always knew about the guy but reading about him and seeing the best of his work definitely gave me more inspiration for taking more pics
March 29, 2024
Sin palabras para describir este libro de fotografía. De verdad que quedé en shock. Posee todos los aspectos que amo sobre este arte y estoy fascinado de que este libro lo encontré de segunda mano en condiciones perfectas. Aparte de un texto biográfico que añade un trasfondo al fotógrafo, el plato principal es su trabajo. Desde sus inicios, pasando por su etapa en la guerra y la resistencia, como sus años dorados y su final. Un panfleto de vida y un curriculum fotográfico que deja en evidencia algo: que este señor fue de los mejores fotógrafos de la historia. Un auténtico peatón que gracias a dios, sus ojos poseían un botón que capturaban, la cotidianidad (ya fuese horrible, hermosa o graciosa) de Francia (incluso hasta otros países).
.
Ver estas fotos, te cambia. Ves un progreso y una evolución, pero no solo en su técnica sino en la gente. Vemos una Francia pre segunda guerra que se dedicaba a su día a día, luego las largas filas para comprar alimentos durante la ocupación y el miedo en las caras de la resistencia. Luego vemos la alegría posguerra donde la gente por fin puede resaltar ese lado que los alemanes reprimieron en esos años y luego, trabajos muy elaborados para luego volver a ser ese gran señor que tomaba fotos a desconocidos en la calle, que representaban una pequeña parte de una ciudad donde todo pasa.
.
Algunas fotos me recordaron tanto a las películas de los años 50 y 60 de Godard y sobretodo de Truffaut. Ver a los niños jugando y en las calles me hizo recordarme a una de mis películas favoritas: Les Quatre Cents Coups. Ya sea por la inocencia en las calles al jugar policías y ladrones o como la ansiedad dentro de un aula para que se acabe la clase y salgan a transmitir esa inocencia. Maravilloso.
.
Ver estas fotos, te cambia. Ves un progreso y una evolución, pero no solo en su técnica sino en la gente. Vemos una Francia pre segunda guerra que se dedicaba a su día a día, luego las largas filas para comprar alimentos durante la ocupación y el miedo en las caras de la resistencia. Luego vemos la alegría posguerra donde la gente por fin puede resaltar ese lado que los alemanes reprimieron en esos años y luego, trabajos muy elaborados para luego volver a ser ese gran señor que tomaba fotos a desconocidos en la calle, que representaban una pequeña parte de una ciudad donde todo pasa.
.
Algunas fotos me recordaron tanto a las películas de los años 50 y 60 de Godard y sobretodo de Truffaut. Ver a los niños jugando y en las calles me hizo recordarme a una de mis películas favoritas: Les Quatre Cents Coups. Ya sea por la inocencia en las calles al jugar policías y ladrones o como la ansiedad dentro de un aula para que se acabe la clase y salgan a transmitir esa inocencia. Maravilloso.
July 16, 2019
⭐️ 3,5/5 ⭐️
Ein tolles Buch, das tief gehende Einblicke in den Alltag von Robert Doisneau verschafft, ohne dabei zu gestellt oder zu Biografie-lastig zu wirken.
Man lernt beim Lesen viele tolle Künstler hinter den Kulissen kennen. Vor allem der Teil mit Picasso war für mich sehr interessant, weil man das Charisma, das von ihm ausging, auch durch Doisneaus Zeilen spüren konnte. Man konnte spüren, dass dieser Mann durch und durch Kunst war.
Als Fotograf hatte Doisneau natürlich auch eine große Beobachtungsgabe, die er auch in seinen Schriften gut hat einfließen lassen.
Manchmal war das Buch etwas monoton, weil nicht immer viel passiert ist, aber das muss es in solchen Büchern auch gar nicht.
Solche Bücher liest man aufgrund der Menschen, nicht aufgrund der spannenden Handlungen.
Eines hat Robert Doisneau auf jeden Fall geschafft:
Er hat sich mir beim Lesen vorstellen lassen, mit seinem Buch und einem guten Kaffee in einem alten, unbekannten, pariser Café, das vielleicht einen Namen wie ,Le Tourbillon’ trägt, zu sitzen.
Ein tolles Buch, das tief gehende Einblicke in den Alltag von Robert Doisneau verschafft, ohne dabei zu gestellt oder zu Biografie-lastig zu wirken.
Man lernt beim Lesen viele tolle Künstler hinter den Kulissen kennen. Vor allem der Teil mit Picasso war für mich sehr interessant, weil man das Charisma, das von ihm ausging, auch durch Doisneaus Zeilen spüren konnte. Man konnte spüren, dass dieser Mann durch und durch Kunst war.
Als Fotograf hatte Doisneau natürlich auch eine große Beobachtungsgabe, die er auch in seinen Schriften gut hat einfließen lassen.
Manchmal war das Buch etwas monoton, weil nicht immer viel passiert ist, aber das muss es in solchen Büchern auch gar nicht.
Solche Bücher liest man aufgrund der Menschen, nicht aufgrund der spannenden Handlungen.
Eines hat Robert Doisneau auf jeden Fall geschafft:
Er hat sich mir beim Lesen vorstellen lassen, mit seinem Buch und einem guten Kaffee in einem alten, unbekannten, pariser Café, das vielleicht einen Namen wie ,Le Tourbillon’ trägt, zu sitzen.
October 8, 2017
"Bisogna avere il coraggio di piazzarsi in un punto e di restarci immobili: e non per qualche minuto, ma per una ora buona, magari anche due.
Bisogna trasformarsi in una statua senza piedistallo, ed è buffo, in quei casi, vedere fino a che punto si riesca ad attirare i naufraghi del movimento." (quarta di copertina)
"Si chiama aura quella specie di tubo al neon che si accende intorno a certe persone, isolandole per un breve momento. Bisogna sbrigarsi a registrarla, perché non regge il movimento." (p. 305)
Bisogna trasformarsi in una statua senza piedistallo, ed è buffo, in quei casi, vedere fino a che punto si riesca ad attirare i naufraghi del movimento." (quarta di copertina)
"Si chiama aura quella specie di tubo al neon che si accende intorno a certe persone, isolandole per un breve momento. Bisogna sbrigarsi a registrarla, perché non regge il movimento." (p. 305)
December 29, 2018
I just rediscovered this little book that Julia gave me several Christmases ago. A very brief but fascinating look at the photography of Robert Doisneau and his mastery of telling a story with but an image. It spans the lifetime of his work, his early prewar photos of France, then images of life during the war, postwar photos all the way up to the late 80s and early 90s when he passed. A beautiful compendium of a brilliant man's vision. Very, very concise read, but many exquisite photos.
September 1, 2018
Lovely pictures of the everyday life in Paris over a period of 1930 to 1985. Some of the pictures were posed but they are done with a sense of humor.All black and white images. Many of them by now iconic in the sense that one realizes you have seen them before. Humane and humorous and sad photos.
January 25, 2021
Mucho mas que un beso. El fotógrafo que inmortalizó la belleza de lo cotidiano.
August 14, 2014
One of the best photography album I've ever seen. What I find truly remarcable about Doisneau is his ability to capture portraits and especially those of children. Another great feature of this small album are the photos of writters/artists/paintors: I've seen Orsosn Wells, Simone de Beauvoir, Picasso, Jaques Prevert, Raymond Queneau. And something the reminded me of one of the greates poets of Romania: mircea ivanescu, who adored cats and ofetn was seen reading on the street while wlaking. On the left page there is a lady with six or seven cats and on the right one there is a gut reading while walking. Of course, the fabolous cover-photo, the kiss which triggered a lot of discussions - if it is a spontaneus capture or a set up.
February 16, 2009
Overzicht van het werk van de Franse fotograaf Robert Doisneau (1912-1994), bekend om zijn sobere zwart-wit foto's uit de Franse voorsteden.
!!! je kan me blij maken met: 1. een lege ruimte , 2. een stoel en 3. volgende werken: Jardinier du dimanche (1943), Louis de Broglie cherchant l'erreur à l'institut Henri Poincaré (1942), La concierge aux lunettes (1945), Déjeuner à Montrouge (1945), Simone de Beauvoir aux 'Deux Magots' (1944), Un dimanche à la campagne (1949), Colette aux sulfures (1950), Le petit balcon (1953), Le prisonnier (1956), Les pains de Picasso (1952), Fernand Léger (1954) en Georges Braque à Varangéville (1953)
!!! je kan me blij maken met: 1. een lege ruimte , 2. een stoel en 3. volgende werken: Jardinier du dimanche (1943), Louis de Broglie cherchant l'erreur à l'institut Henri Poincaré (1942), La concierge aux lunettes (1945), Déjeuner à Montrouge (1945), Simone de Beauvoir aux 'Deux Magots' (1944), Un dimanche à la campagne (1949), Colette aux sulfures (1950), Le petit balcon (1953), Le prisonnier (1956), Les pains de Picasso (1952), Fernand Léger (1954) en Georges Braque à Varangéville (1953)
May 11, 2008
I ADORE Robert Doiseneau, I fell in love with is photographs at first sight (even though I think the "Kiss" is actually not one of his best shots).
This book is fantastic, notably because it is a portable collection of Doisneau's work and also because of the carefull and competent way in which the author talks about this amazing photographer.
The bonus part for me is that the edition I own is written in Italian, Spanish and Portugues: I got an excuse to read the book three times in a row!!! :)
This book is fantastic, notably because it is a portable collection of Doisneau's work and also because of the carefull and competent way in which the author talks about this amazing photographer.
The bonus part for me is that the edition I own is written in Italian, Spanish and Portugues: I got an excuse to read the book three times in a row!!! :)
August 11, 2012
As street photography goes, Doisneau is a master. This Taschen book is a constant inspiration to me, it gives me ideas for my creative work and helps me to see things when I take my own camera out and look at people on the streets. Real life is beautiful, vibrant and emotional and here it sits for us in a beautifully sized, smooth covered joy full of images take with all the pathos of a very fine photographer. I love to flick through it and see what takes hold of my mind.
January 17, 2016
A collection of Doisneau's beautiful photographs, with a few short essays to give some biographical detail. Not a huge amount of illuminating text, but enough to give the images some context. And the photos are, indeed, the thing. As a pocket-sized introduction to the photographer, it does all it needs to, and is a diverting and interesting book.
November 17, 2011
Classic Black and White photography in an accessible format. No pretense at being anything but prints suitable for casual mounting and display.
Another quality Taschen product that expands the visual language a notch or two more.
Another quality Taschen product that expands the visual language a notch or two more.
June 13, 2013
Great read for photography lovers. Greats lessons from this magician. Easy to read. All the bests photographs from on of the bests photographers. Lacks of details about his work and inspirations. It's a great introduction about Street photography.
September 2, 2008
This is a really good introduction to Doisneau's work, and is filled with many of his best photographs, printed very clearly, with wonderful text by Gautrand.
February 25, 2012
Easy to read and a nice selection of Doisneau's work but a bit too light on details about this energetic street photographer.
April 30, 2013
all his famous photos.
June 20, 2013
¡Le amo! Inspiraba sin saber quien era, ahora que sé más de su vida y saber que en sus inicios fotográficos tenía miedo de acercarse a la gente para tomarle fotos, lo hace más cercano. ^.^
November 2, 2014
The photos in the book are really astonishing!
April 3, 2015
Pequeña joya fotográfica, baratita y recomendable. Elogio de lo pequeño.
July 20, 2015
Wonderfully atmospheric photographs that demonstrate quite clearly that photography is an art.
September 1, 2015
Interesting biography with an overview of Robert Doisneau's marvellous pictures.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews