From the Library of Harvey Zucker.


Coined by Henri Cartier-Bresson himself, "the decisive moment" refers to that single, instantaneous moment in time when the click of the shutter captures a scene for posterity. He captured and framed his images of everyday life instinctively, with a seemingly complete understanding for geometry and order within the frame. His photographs are infused with a sense of freshness that, even today, is unmistakable.


Cartier-Bresson's photographic career was shaped by a passion for travel, which is represented here, in his best-known "chef d'oeuvre." The Decisive Moment features pictures of Spain, Mexico, the United States and India, in full-page gravure reproductions, all from his unique humanist perspective.


This first American edition, which is neatly signed and inscribed by the notoriously private artist, aptly represents his relatively short career as a photographer, one marked by an inherent trust in his intuitive eye.