Andre Kertesz: A Poet With the Camera

A pioneer of the small-format camera, Andre Kertesz’s photographic vision shaped the course of contemporary photojournalism. Self-taught and non-conformist, he began photographing in Hungary in 1912 and remained there until 1925, at which time he moved to Paris. In 1936 he moved to New York City, where he felt displaced and forgotten. It wasn’t until 1964 that he was “rediscovered” and began showing in London, Paris, and New York. This video was shot five weeks before Kertesz’s death in 1985 at the age of 91. More than 70 photographs are depicted from the three creative periods of his life—Hungary, France, and the United States. The interview centers on a meeting between Kertesz and Cornell Capa, director of the International Center of Photography in New York.

Interview by Bela Ugrin.