Jacques Henri Lartigue
- Born:
- June 13, 1894, Courbevoie, France
- Died:
- September 12, 1986, Nice, France
- Nationality:
- French
- Profession(s):
- Photographer, Painter
Early Life and Education
- Jacques Henri Lartigue began taking photographs at a very young age, around the age of six.
- His wealthy family provided him with the equipment and freedom to pursue his interest in photography.
- He documented his family's life, capturing moments of leisure, sports, and early aviation.
- Alongside photography, he also developed a passion for painting, which he continued throughout his life.
Career and Major Achievements
- Initially, Lartigue's photographic work remained largely private and unknown to the wider art world.
- He pursued painting as his primary artistic outlet for much of his life.
- In 1963, at the age of 69, his photographs were "discovered" and brought to the attention of John Szarkowski, then curator of photography at the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
- This led to a major exhibition at MoMA and the publication of his first book, Diary of a Century.
- The MoMA exhibition catapulted him to international fame as a photographer.
- Lartigue continued to work and exhibit his photographs until his death in 1986.
Notable Works
- His photographs are known for capturing the joy and spontaneity of life in France during the Belle Époque and beyond.
- Key subjects include his family, especially his brother Zissou, fashionable women, and sporting events.
- His early photographs documented the burgeoning world of aviation.
Legacy and Impact
Jacques Henri Lartigue's legacy is as a master of capturing fleeting moments of joy and vitality. His unique perspective, developed from childhood, provides a valuable glimpse into a bygone era. He is now celebrated as one of the most important photographers of the 20th century. This `lartigue jacques-henri biography for kids` serves as a basic reference to his life and work.