Andre KerteszAndre Kertesz

By: Elli BockBy: Elli Bock

BiographyBiography July 2July 2ndnd, 1894 to September 28, 1894 to September 28thth, 1985, 1985 Nationality: HungarianNationality: Hungarian Studied and had photography as a hobby in Studied and had photography as a hobby in

HungaryHungary Attended the Hungarian Academy of Attended the Hungarian Academy of

Commerce in 1912 and got his bachelor’s Commerce in 1912 and got his bachelor’s degreedegree

He got a job at a stock exchange where he He got a job at a stock exchange where he raised the money to buy his first cameraraised the money to buy his first camera

In 1913, he got drafted to the Austro-In 1913, he got drafted to the Austro-Hungarian army where he brought his Hungarian army where he brought his camera alongcamera along

Biography Cont…Biography Cont… Moved to Paris in 1925 and started a career Moved to Paris in 1925 and started a career

as a freelance photographeras a freelance photographer He sold a number of pictures to magazines He sold a number of pictures to magazines

and published some postcards tooand published some postcards too Did his final work and had published work in Did his final work and had published work in

the United States after he moved there in the United States after he moved there in 19361936

In 1964, after some hard times had been In 1964, after some hard times had been faced for him and his career, he became part faced for him and his career, he became part of a one man show for the Museum of Modern of a one man show for the Museum of Modern Art where his career was back on trackArt where his career was back on track

By the mid 1970’s, he was showing his work By the mid 1970’s, he was showing his work in galleries all around the world in galleries all around the world

StyleStyle His first style was a documentary artist. He His first style was a documentary artist. He

mostly documented his familymostly documented his family When he moved to Paris, he approached When he moved to Paris, he approached

journalistic photography where he turned his journalistic photography where he turned his camera different ways and took pictures from camera different ways and took pictures from unique view points. He also explored with unique view points. He also explored with distorting imagesdistorting images

When he moved to America, he was forced to When he moved to America, he was forced to take more pictures inside for magazinestake more pictures inside for magazines

Near the end of his life, he returned to taking Near the end of his life, he returned to taking pictures of people and of the city life outsidepictures of people and of the city life outside

His inspirationHis inspiration Andre had four main periods in his Andre had four main periods in his

career, thus creating four different career, thus creating four different inspirations. Overall, his main inspirations. Overall, his main inspiration was capturing pictures in inspiration was capturing pictures in the moment. He wanted to capture the moment. He wanted to capture moments that people didn’t notice moments that people didn’t notice and just walked by without thinking. and just walked by without thinking.

Inspiration Cont…Inspiration Cont… In his Hungarian period, his inspiration In his Hungarian period, his inspiration

was the people in his pictures. He took was the people in his pictures. He took pictures of local peasants and people pictures of local peasants and people around town and even the Hungarian around town and even the Hungarian Army. He wanted to show people all Army. He wanted to show people all the hard work the army was going the hard work the army was going through, so he was inspired to keep through, so he was inspired to keep taking more pictures of them.taking more pictures of them.

Do you think that would inspire you?Do you think that would inspire you?

Inspiration cont…Inspiration cont… During his French Period where he During his French Period where he

lived in Paris, he took many pictures lived in Paris, he took many pictures for magazines and was published for magazines and was published many times. His inspiration was many times. His inspiration was seeing his work being published in seeing his work being published in famous magazines and having many famous magazines and having many people from all over Paris look at his people from all over Paris look at his work. work.

Inspiration Cont…Inspiration Cont… During his Later Life period, Andre During his Later Life period, Andre

took many pictures of the took many pictures of the Washingon Square Park in America. Washingon Square Park in America. His inspiration was not only His inspiration was not only continuing to be so successful, but continuing to be so successful, but also having the support of his wife also having the support of his wife right beside him through it all. right beside him through it all.

Inspiration cont…Inspiration cont… His final period of his life was his His final period of his life was his

International Period. During this period International Period. During this period his work became known world wide and his work became known world wide and he had many exhibits everyone. His he had many exhibits everyone. His inspiration was being recognized all inspiration was being recognized all around the world and taking such good around the world and taking such good pictures that his work was able to be pictures that his work was able to be displayed world wide. Also, all the displayed world wide. Also, all the awards he got gave him even more awards he got gave him even more inspiration. inspiration.

DescriptionDescription A metal fork is faced down and is A metal fork is faced down and is

balancing on a white bowlbalancing on a white bowl There is a shadow from the bowl shown There is a shadow from the bowl shown

to the right of it on the table and a to the right of it on the table and a shadow from the fork on both the table shadow from the fork on both the table and tip of the bowland tip of the bowl

Black and whiteBlack and white The fork, bowl, and shadows are in focusThe fork, bowl, and shadows are in focus There’s a strong light hitting the bottom There’s a strong light hitting the bottom

part of forkpart of fork

AnalysisAnalysis Value- strong black and white, clear Value- strong black and white, clear

shadows that are strongly shadows that are strongly emphasizedemphasized

BalanceBalance Movement- diagonal line of the forkMovement- diagonal line of the fork Contrast of black and whiteContrast of black and white

InterpretationInterpretation Andre takes pictures by what he sees in the Andre takes pictures by what he sees in the

moment and may not be seen by everyonemoment and may not be seen by everyone ““The moment always dictates my work.. The moment always dictates my work..

Everybody can work but they don’t Everybody can work but they don’t necessarily see.. I see a situation and know necessarily see.. I see a situation and know its right.” – Andre Kerteszits right.” – Andre Kertesz

These are typical items that you may see These are typical items that you may see everyday but the way they are depicted must everyday but the way they are depicted must have caught his eye.have caught his eye.

Others may not have noticed anything unique Others may not have noticed anything unique about this arrangement but Andre noticed the about this arrangement but Andre noticed the uniqueness of it and instantly knew it would uniqueness of it and instantly knew it would be a great picturebe a great picture

JudgmentJudgment I like this photo because it makes I like this photo because it makes

ordinary objects look more distinctive ordinary objects look more distinctive because of the shadows displayed. It adds because of the shadows displayed. It adds some sort of mystery to what could have some sort of mystery to what could have been a normal picture.been a normal picture.

I don’t lime this photo because I feel it is I don’t lime this photo because I feel it is very easy to take and the shadows could very easy to take and the shadows could have been noticed by many people. It is have been noticed by many people. It is not very difficult to set up or take the not very difficult to set up or take the picture.picture.

What do you think about What do you think about this picture?this picture?

Clock, ParisClock, Paris1950 Gelatin silver print 1950 Gelatin silver print

9 7/8 x 7 3/4 in. 9 7/8 x 7 3/4 in.

Chez Mondrian, ParisChez Mondrian, Paris1926 Gelatin silver print 1926 Gelatin silver print

4 5/16 x 3 1/8 in. 4 5/16 x 3 1/8 in.

The Dancing FaunThe Dancing Faun1919 Gelatin silver print 1919 Gelatin silver print

2 3/16 x 3 5/16 in. 2 3/16 x 3 5/16 in.

The Lost Cloud, New YorkThe Lost Cloud, New York1919 Gelatin silver print 1919 Gelatin silver print

9 3/4 x 6 1/2 in. 9 3/4 x 6 1/2 in.

Meudon, FranceMeudon, France1928 Gelatin silver print1928 Gelatin silver print

9 3/4 x 6 7/8 in. 9 3/4 x 6 7/8 in.

Watchmaker’s ShopWatchmaker’s Shop1950 Gelatin silver print1950 Gelatin silver print

9 3/4 x 6 3/4 in 9 3/4 x 6 3/4 in

Magda ForstnerMagda Forstner1926 Gelatin silver print 1926 Gelatin silver print

4 5/16 x 2 5/16 in. 4 5/16 x 2 5/16 in.

People and ShadowsPeople and Shadows1928 Gelatin silver print 1928 Gelatin silver print

6 1/4 x 8 11/16 in. 6 1/4 x 8 11/16 in.

Circus PerformerCircus Performer1920 Gelatin silver print1920 Gelatin silver print

9 7/16 x 7 1/2 in. 9 7/16 x 7 1/2 in.

Satiric DancerSatiric Dancer1926 Gelatin silver print1926 Gelatin silver print

9 3/4 x 7 3/4 in. 9 3/4 x 7 3/4 in.

Which photo do you Which photo do you enjoy more?enjoy more?

Works Cited ListWorks Cited List http://www.chrishorner.net/tag/andre-kertesz/http://www.chrishorner.net/tag/andre-kertesz/ http://www.chrishorner.net/tag/andre-kertesz/http://www.chrishorner.net/tag/andre-kertesz/ http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/episodes/andre-http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/episodes/andre-

kertesz/about-andre-kertesz/645/kertesz/about-andre-kertesz/645/

http://http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurlwww.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.bulgergallery.com/dynamic/images/display/Es=http://www.bulgergallery.com/dynamic/images/display/Estate_of_Andre_Kertesz_Self_portrait_as_a_soldier_Esta_Hutate_of_Andre_Kertesz_Self_portrait_as_a_soldier_Esta_Hungary_1915_3141_41.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.bulgergalngary_1915_3141_41.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.bulgergallery.com/dynamic/fr_artwork_display.asp%3FArtworkID%3lery.com/dynamic/fr_artwork_display.asp%3FArtworkID%3D3141&usg=__JsUfi9VU9OGjSbDet_-2Kv-Vj3w=&h=400&D3141&usg=__JsUfi9VU9OGjSbDet_-2Kv-Vj3w=&h=400&w=316&sz=19&hl=w=316&sz=19&hl=en&starten&start=7&sig2=oHp6bVv-d1WrQEFj8a5QbA&zoom=1&um=1&i=7&sig2=oHp6bVv-d1WrQEFj8a5QbA&zoom=1&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=gc0A-jfvX2HouM:&tbnh=124&tbnw=98&prtbs=1&tbnid=gc0A-jfvX2HouM:&tbnh=124&tbnw=98&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dandre%2Bkertesz%2Bportraits%26uev=/images%3Fq%3Dandre%2Bkertesz%2Bportraits%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Dactive%26tbs%3Disch:1m%3D1%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Dactive%26tbs%3Disch:1&ei=P4g9TY3TOczTgQeG0dCtCA&ei=P4g9TY3TOczTgQeG0dCtCA

http://www.urban-photography-art.com/andre-kertesz.htmlhttp://www.urban-photography-art.com/andre-kertesz.html

Multiple Choice Multiple Choice QuestionsQuestions

1. Where was Andre born?1. Where was Andre born? A. AmericaA. America B. ParisB. Paris C. HungaryC. Hungary

2. Where did Andre become known world wide?2. Where did Andre become known world wide? A. AmericaA. America B. ParisB. Paris C. HungaryC. Hungary

3. In which country did his work get published in 3. In which country did his work get published in MagazinesMagazines A. AmericaA. America B. ParisB. Paris C. Hungary C. Hungary