Robert DOISNEAU
ロベール・ドアノー
Robert Doisneau was born April 14, 1912 in Gentilly, Val-de-Marne, Paris. He is one of France’s most noted photographers. During his long career, his poetic approach to street photography recorded French everyday life in often playful and surreal images. Always charmed by his subjects, he enjoyed finding amusing juxtapositions or oddities of human nature.
Doisneau initially studied engraving and lithography at the École Estienne in Paris to learn the crafts involved in the book trade, but claimed that the streets of the working class neighborhood of Gentilly provided his most important schooling. When he was sixteen he took up amateur photography but was reportedly so shy that he started photographing cobble-stones before progressing to children and then adults. After his graduation in 1929, he started photographing professionally, first working for advertising photographer André Vigneau, in whose studio he met artists and writers with avant-garde ideas. He began photographing details of objects in 1930, and sold his first photo-story to the Excelsior newspaper in 1932. Beginning in 1934, he worked for Renault as an industrial and advertising photographer. When he was fired in 1939, he earned his living through advertising and postcard photography. That year he was hired by the Rapho photo agency, where he worked until the onset of World War II. A member of the Resistance both as a soldier and as a photographer, Doisneau also worked for the resistance forging documents. He photographed both the occupation and the liberation of Paris. In 1945 he started anew with his advertising and magazine work, including fashion photography and reportage for French Vogue from 1948 to 1952. He joined the Alliance photo agency for a short time and began working with Rapho again in 1946. His first book of photographs, La Banlieue de Paris (“The Suburbs of Paris,”1949); was followed by over twenty publications of his photographs, often of Paris and Parisians. In the 1950s Doisneau became active in Group XV, an organization of photographers devoted to improving both the artistry and technical aspects of photography. From then on, the street was his arena. He photographed a vast span of people and events, often juxtaposing conformist and maverick elements in images marked by an exquisite sense of humor, by anti-establishment values, and, above all, by his deeply felt humanism. Doisneau was in many ways a shy and unassuming man, rather like his photography. He lived in the Paris suburb of Montrouge. He died on April 1, 1994 in Broussais, France.
Doisneau won the Prix Kodak in 1947. He was awarded the Prix Niepce in 1956 and acted as a consultant to Expo '67, Canada. A short film, Le Paris de Robert Doisneau, was made in 1973. He was appointed Chevalier of the Order of the Legion of Honour in 1984. Doisneau has been the subject of major retrospectives at the Bibliotheque Nationale in Paris, the Art Institute of Chicago, George Eastman House in Rochester, New York, and the Witkin Gallery in New York.
Publications
1949 - La Banlieue de Paris. (The Suburbs of Paris). Text by Blaise Cendrars. Paris: Éditions Pierre Seghers
1951 - L'Enfant de Paris. (The Children of Paris). Text by Claude Roy. Neuchâtel: La Baconnière
1952 - Sortilèges de Paris. (The magic of Paris). Text by François Cali. Paris: Arthaud
1954 - Les Parisiens tels qu’ils sont. (The Parisians as they are.). Text by Robert Giraud and Michel Ragon. Paris: Delpire
1955 - Instantanés de Paris. (Snapshots of Paris). Preface by Blaise Cendrars. Paris: Arthaud
1955 - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, Compter en s’amusant. (Fun Counting). Lausanne: La Guilde du Livre
1956 - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.. Text by Arthur Gregor. Philadelphia: Lippincott
1962 - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.. Text by Elsie May Harris. London: Nelson
1956 - Pour que Paris soit. (This is Paris). Text by Elsa Triolet. Paris: Éditions Cercle d’Art
1956 - Gosses de Paris. (Children of Paris). Text by Jean Dongués. Paris: Éditions Jeheber
1956 - Robert Doisneau's Paris: 148 Photographs. Text by Blaise Cendrars. New York: Simon & Schuster
1956 - Paris Parade: 148 Photographs. London: Thames & Hudson
1956 - Le ballet contre l'opéra. (The Ballet and The Opera). Souillac, Lot: Mulhouse
1958 - A.B.C. du dépannage.. N.p.: Société des pétroles Shell Berre
1960 - Bistrots. (Bistros). Text by Robert Giraud. Le Point: Revue artistique et littéraire, 57. Souillac, Lot: Mulhouse
1961 - Arabie, carrefour des siècles: Album. (Arabia, crossroads of the centuries. An album). Text by Jacques Benoist-Méchin. Lausanne: La Guilde du livre
1962 -Nicolas Schöffer.. Text by Guy Habasque and Jacques Ménétrier. Neuchâtel: Éditions du Griffon,
1962 - Cognac.. Text by Louise de Vilmorin. Paris: Rémy Martin
1964 - Marius, le forestier. (Marius, the forester. The working men). Text by Dominique Halévy. Les hommes travaillent. Paris: Éditions Fernand Nathan
1965 - Henri Cartier-Bresson, Robert Doisneau, André Vigneau: Trois photographes français. Arles: Musée Réattu
1965 - Catalogue of an exhibition at Musée Réattu of Doisneau, Henri Cartier-Bresson, and André Vigneau.
Épouvantables Épouvantails. (Appalling Scarecrows). Paris: Éditions Hors Mesure
1966 - Le Royaume d’argot. (The Kingdom of slang). Text by Robert Giraud. Paris: Denoël
1966 - Catherine la danseuse. (Catherine. the dancer). Text by Michèle Manceaux. Paris: Éditions Fernand Nathan
1967 - L'École polytechnique. (The Polytechnic). Loos-lez-Lille: L. Danel
1968 - L'Oeil objectif. (The eye is a lens). Marseille: Musée Cantini
1969 - Le Royaume secret du milieu. (The secret of the middle kingdom). Text by Robert Giraud. Paris: Éditions Planète
1972 - My Paris. Text by Chevalier, Maurice. Macmillan Publishers. New York
1974 - Le Paris de Robert Doisneau et Max-Pol Fouchet. Les éditeurs français réunis. France
1978 - L’Enfant à la Colombe. (The Child of the Dove). Text by Sage, James. Editions of the Oak. Paris. La Loire. Denoël. Paris
1979 - Le Mal de Paris. (The Evil of Paris). Text by Lépidis, Clément. Arthaud Publications. Paris. Trois Secondes d’éternité. Contrejour. Paris
1980 - Ballade pour Violoncelle et Chambre Noir. (A Song for a Cello and a dark room). co-author: Baquet, Maurice. Herscher Editions. Paris
1981 - Robert Doisneau. Text by Chevrier, Jean-François. Belfond Editions. Paris
1982 - Passages et Galeries du 19ème Siècle. (Passages and Galleries of the 19th Century). Text by Delvaille, Bernard. Éditions Balland. Paris
1983 - Doisneau. Photopoche, Centre national de la photographie. France
1986 - Paysages, Photographies. (Landscapes). (mission photography for DATAR) Éditions Hazan. Paris
1987 - Pour saluer Cendrars. (In honour of Cendrars). Text by Camilly, J. Actes Sud. Arles, France
1988 - 60 portraits d/artists. (60 portraits of artists). Text by Petit, Jean. Hans Grieshaber Publications. Zürich
1988 - Doisneau. Quotations by Doisneau collected by Maisonneuve Andre. Éditions Hazan. Paris, France
1988 - Bonjour Monsieur Le Corbusier. (Hello Mr Le Corbusier). Text by Petit, Jean. Hans Grieshaber Publications. Zürich
1989 - A l’imparfait de l’objectif. (The imperfect object). Belfond Editions. Paris
1989 - Les Doigts Pleins d’encre. (Fingers full of ink). Text by Cavanna. Hoëbeke Editions. Paris
1990 - La Science de Doisneau. (The Science of Robert Doisneau). Hoëbeke Editions. Paris
1990 - Les Auvergnats. (People of the Auvergne). With Dubois, Jaques. Nathan Images. Paris
1990 - Lettres à un Aveugle sur des Photographies de Robert Doisneau. (Letters to a blind man about the Photographs of Robert Doisneau). Text by Roumette, Sylvain
1990 - Le Tout sur le tout/Le Temps qu’il fait. (All about the weather). Paris
1990 - Le Vin des rues. Text by Robert Giraud. Paris: Denoël
1991 - Rue Jacques Prévert. Hoëbeke Editions. Paris, France
1991 - La Compagnie des Zincs. Text by Carradec, François Carradec. Seghers. Paris
1992 - Les Grandes Vacances. (Summer vacation). Text by Pennac, Daniel. Hoëbeke Editions. Paris
1992 - Mes gens de Plume. Writings by Doisneau collected by Dubois, Y. Éditions La Martinière. France
1993 - Les Enfants de Germinal. (The children of Germinal). Text by Cavanna. Hoëbeke Editions. Paris
1994 - Doisneau 40/44. Text by Ory, Pascal. Hoëbeke Editions. Paris
1994 - La Vie de Famille. (Family life). Text by Ory, Pascal. Hoëbeke Editions. Paris
1995 - Robert Doisneau ou la Vie d’un photographie. (Robert Doisneau. the life of a photographer. Text by Hamilton, Peter. Hoëbeke Editions. Paris
1997 - Mes Parisiens. (My Parisians). Nathan Publications. Paris
2010 - Palm Springs 1960. Paris: Flammarion
2012 - Robert Doisneau, comme un barbare. Text by André Pozner. Paris: Lux Editions
Selected Solo Exhibitions
1972 - International Museum of Photography at George Eastman House, Rochester, New York
1974 - University of California at Davis. Solo exhibition, Galerie du Château d’Eau, Toulouse
1975 - Witkin Gallery, New York; Musée Réattu Arts Décoratifs, Nantes; Musée Réattu, Arles
1975 - Galerie et Fils, Brussels. Solo exhibition, fnac, Lyons; Group exhibition, Expression de l’humor, Boulogne Billancourt; Solo exhibition, Galerie Neugebauer, Basel
1977 - Brussels; Exhibition with Guy la Querrec, Carlos Freire, Claude Raimond-Dityvon, Bernard Descamps, and Jean Lattès, Six Photographes en quête de banlieue, Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris
1978 - Ne Bougeons plus, Galerie Agathe Gaillard, Paris; Solo exhibition, Witkin Gallery, New York; Solo exhibition, Musée Nicéphore Niépce, Charlon-sur-Saône
1979 - Paris, les passants qui passent, Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris
1980 - Amsterdam
1981 - Witkin Gallery, New York[18]
1982 - Portraits, Foundation Nationale de la Photographie, Lyons; Solo exhibition, French Embassy, New York; Solo exhibition, Robert Doisneau, Photographe de banlieue, Town Hall, Gentilly
1982 - Palace of Fine Arts, Beijing, Exhibition of portraits, Tokyo; Solo exhibition, Robert Doisneau, Photographie du dimanche, Institut Lumière, Lyon
1987 - St.-Denis, Musée de St.-Denis; Solo exhibition, The National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto
1988 - A Homage to Robert Doisneau, Villa Medicis, Rome
1989 - Doisneau-Renault, Grande Halle de la Villette, Paris
1990 - La Science de Doisneau, Jardin des Plantes, Paris
1992 - Robert Doisneau: A Retrospective, Modern Art Oxford
1996 - Montpellier Photo-Visions, Galerie Municipale de la Photographie; Isetan Museum of Art, Tokyo; Daimaru Museum, Osaka, Japan
2005 - Robert Doisneau from the Fictional to the Real, Bruce Silverstein Gallery, New York
2005 - Robert Doisneau, Galerie Claude Bernard, Paris
2010 - Robert Doisneau, Du metier a l'oeuvre, Fondation Henri Cartier-Bresson, 2, Impasse Lebouis, 75014 Paris
2010 - Robert Doisneau, the fisherman of images, the Space for Art of Caja Madrid Zaragoza, Aranjuez, Madrid
Selected Group Exhibitions
1951 - with Brassaї, Willy Ronis, and Izis, Museum of Modern Art, New York
1965 - with Daniel Frasnay, Jean Lattès, Jeanine Niépce, Roger Pic, and Willy Ronis, Six Photographes et Paris, Musée des Arts Decoratifs, Paris; Exhibition with Henri Cartier-Bresson and André Vigneau, Musée Réattu, Arles; Solo Exhibition, Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris; Exhibition with D. Brihat, J. P. Sudre, and L. Clergue, Musée Cantini de Marseilles
1972 - with Edouard Boubat, Brassaї, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Izis, and Willy Ronis, French Embassy, Moscow
1976 - with Brassaї, Cartier-Bresson, Jean-Philippe Charbonnier, Izis, and Marc Riboud, Kraków
1986 - De Vogue à femme, Rencontres Internationales de la Photographie d’Arles
1993 - The Summerlee Heritage Trust, Coatbridge, Scotland; Royal Festival Hall, London; Manchester City Art Gallery; O Mes da Fotografie Festival, Convento do Beato, Lisbon, Portugal; Musée Carnavalet, Paris
1994 - "Hommage à Robert Doisneau", festival des Rencontres d'Arles, France
1994 - Musée d’Art Contemporain de Montréal, Canada; Galway Arts Centre, Ireland; Solo exhibition, A Homage to Robert Doisneau, Galerie du Château d’Eau à Toulouse; Solo exhibition, Doisneau 40/44, Centre d’Histoire de la Résistance et de la Déportation de Lyon, Lyon, France; Solo exhibition, Robert Doisneau ou la désobéissance, Ecomusée de Fresnais
1995 - Museum of Modern Art, Oxford, England; Aberdeen Art Gallery, Scotland; The Mead Gallery, Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry
2000 - Gravités, Paris
2000 - Galerie Claude Bernard, Paris
2002 - Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, Santiago, Chile
2003 - Budapest, Hungary; Exhibition, Bucarest, Romania
2003 - Galerie Claude Bernard, Paris
2010 - Discoveries, Robert Doisneau, Bruce Silverstein Gallery, New York
2011 - Night, Robert Doisneau Bruce Silverstein Gallery, New York
2014 - The moments that he loved, sangsangmadang, Seoul
2015 - Robert Doisneau, a photographer at the museum, Grande Galerie de l'Évolution, Paris
Awards
1956 - Niépce Prize (Nicéphore Niépce)
1983 - Grand Prix National de la Photographie
1986 - Balzac Prize (Honoré de Balzac)
1984 - Chevalier of the Order of the Legion of Honour
1991 - Honorary Fellowship (HonFRPS) from the Royal Photographic Society
