Robert Doisneau, life through a lens

La photography can be common, commercial or journalistic. Robert Doisneau was able to elevate this discipline to the rank of art. During the period of After War, he delivers unique images to the world, which will remain engraved in memories.

Birth of the artist photographer

The setting in which Robert Doisneau begins his life is, after all, quite peaceful. On April 14, 1912, this child, promised to a brilliant future, grew up in a bourgeois family, settled in Val-de-Marne. Although he lacks nothing, the young photographer takes affects the class in which he evolves. His education took place in a classical manner, until at the age of thirteen. That year, Robert Doisneau joined the Ecole Estienne. He then continued his studies as a lithographer engraver from which he graduated brilliantly. With this cultural background, the young Doisneau began his adult life as a letter designer. He forged his first weapons at the Atelier Ullman, for which he was brought to work. design advertisements, mainly pharmaceutical.

Écareer developments

In 1930, he turned his back on the pharmaceutical advertising world, to become an operator, at the service of the sculpteur André Vigneau. The commands follow one another in sequence. a regular rhythm. The young photographer makes a living from his passion and enjoys enough free time to wander the countless streets of the capital. Paris, particularly its different neighborhoods, became his favorite playground. He sees his city as a huge studio. open sky. The young photographer took his first series of photos there, immortalizing brief moments of life. Paris and its inhabitants represent his greatest source of inspiration.

A very personal view of the world

Robert Doisneau deeply loves his time and the world in which he lives. Fixating these moments of life, as furtive as they are precious, is his way of freezing in time, this world that he loves so much. Worthy heir of Eugène Atget, the artist photographer that then becomes Robert Doisneau poses as a privileged witnessof Parisian life of his time. This title, he produced, with great care, a first photographic report which he called "Excelsior". In these photos, we find the unique vision of the photographer on the market. at the Saint Ouen flea market. This work is quickly noticed and appreciated. and, logically, published. We are then in 1932.

Development of an extraordinary artist

Robert Doisneau is forced to pause his activity, to respond to his questions. the unmissable call of military service. From this time, he retains a deep dislike for the army and everything it includes. On his return, he rushed to the Ullman workshop. In this familiar and comforting place his eyes, he finds the trace of an old acquaintance, Lucien Chauffard. The latter now works elsewhere. Lucien spends his days in the production workshops of the famous Renault brand. Doisneau decides to also spend several years there. Five years pass for the artist. Five years during which he worked hard and took the opportunity to photograph, from all angles, life in the workshops:

• machines,
• the production process,
• assembly lines,
• the workers.

This job does not suit him, despite his all the shots he can take on site. Robert Doisneau multiplies the delays and the remonstrances. In 1939, the artist was simply dismissed. of the workshop.

Finally make a living from photography

Which artist doesn't dream, one day, of making a living from their passion? This dream comes true! for Doisneau, in 1939. Just after having left, constrained and forced, the Renault company, the artist made a decisive meeting. His path crosses that of Charles Rado. The latter is none other than the founder of the Rapho agency. When he discovered the talent of Robert Doisneau, the latter made him an offer that the photographer could hardly refuse: work for the agency, under the status of independent artist. Unfortunately for the young artist photographer, this year 1939 also marked the start of the Second World War. He won't even have time to complete the very first order of his life as a freelance photographer. There it is mobilized, like so many other men in the world. his sides. He fought on the Eastern Front until February 1940, when he died. from which he was demobilized. This fact marks his return to life. Paris. However, a few months later, the advance of the Nazi army forced him to take action. leave the capital. Having left the army, he must find a new way to survive. As things currently stand, he cannot hope to produce art clichés. So he creates postcards. The latter represent Napoleonic monuments. His work is appreciated. and bought on behalf of the Museum of the Armed Forces. He then puts his talents to the benefit of the Resistance. For them, he creates a large number of false papers. At the end of the war, a new encounter will modify the trajectory followed by the artist: Blaise Cendars. With his unwavering support, Doisneau returns to the very essence of his art. He starts again take shots of the suburbs. This series of photographs is also the subject of a publication. From then on, writers will never stop calling on the artist to create works of high quality.

Post-War

The aborted collaboration with the Rapho agency can then resume, more fruitful than ever. For a time, Doisneau was asked to join forces. through the world of fashion, notably through Vogue, but he quickly turned his back on fashion. this discipline which does not suit him at all and makes him uncomfortable; comfortable. the world of fashion, he prefers the unique atmosphere of Paris by Night. In 1947, he united, artistically speaking, with Robert Giraud. Together, they will carry out major projects. This artistic union gave birth to the photographs of the bistros of the 1950s, having contributed to the in a major way the fame of Doisneau. In 1960, the artist was called; far from his beloved city. He found himself in the United States, with the aim of carrying out a unique project: photographing Jerry Lee Lewis. Following; Following this experience, he also produced a report on working life in the USSR. It was only in 1980 that he returned to his first loves, instead of urban night life.

Quote

"My life is telescopic, a series of happy or unhappy encounters, a day-to-day improvisation".

This constant improvisation propelled him to the rank of international artist. Robert Doisneau died in 1994, Paris.