Kertesz on Kertesz: A Self-Portrait

by André Kertész, Peter Adam (Introduction)

Photographs of scenes in Hungary, Paris, and New York are accompanied by Kertesz's comments on his career as a photographer.

Genres: Photography, Art, Nonfiction

120 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1985

About the author

André Kertész (French: [kɛʁtɛs]; 2 July 1894 – 28 September 1985), born Kertész Andor, was a Hungarian-born photographer known for his groundbreaking contributions to photographic composition and the photo essay. In the early years of his career, his then-unorthodox camera angles and style prevented his work from gaining wider recognition. Kertész never felt that he had gained the worldwide recognition he deserved. Today he is considered one of the seminal figures of photojournalism.[

Reviews

[Jeff Clay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good overview of Kertesz' three "periods" as defined by place of residence. Very nice photo reproductions and Kertesz' comments on his own works are priceless.

[Paul Secor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ral Donner, a singer who was an Elvis imitator before being an Elvis imitator became a profession, had a hit record in 1961 entitled "You Don't know what you've got (Until You Lose it)" This review might be entitled You don't know what you've got until you find it. Or, perhaps, too many books.
I bought this book when it was published 40 years ago, read it, looked at the photographs, put it on the shelf, and forgot about it. It wasn't until last week, when I was perusing the shelves of a Goodreads member whom I follow, that I saw her rating of this book and my memory was jogged. I went to my bookshelves and found it sitting amidst a number of other Kertész titles. When I saw it, I had the experience of being reunited with an old friend with whom I'd lost touch. (I'm sure there are others out there who have had a similar experience.) I opened the book immediately and looked at the photographs. Most of them were familiar to me, having looked at various other Kertész collections over the years. But during this viewing, André Kertész's commentary added a new meaning to the familiar images.
I should mention that, for me, one of the most touching photographs in the book was a still life. Here is Mr. Kertész's comment:
"This is a photograph of the apartment when my wife was in the hospital. I wanted the apartment to be painted for her when she came back, but she never came back."

A tip of the cap and a thank you to Vesna https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5... who was responsible for reuniting me with this book.

[Michael P. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a well-done compilation of Kertesz's work from his early days in Hungary onward. The book concentrates mostly on his work in Paris during the 1920s and 1930s, and it gives insight not only into Kertesz's photography but also the Paris art scene of the period, including Kertesz's interactions with other artists. It also showcases Kertesz's excellent use of perspective, with some of the most impressive being his pictures taken from far above the subject. Finally, the book, published shortly before his death, includes some interesting commentary from Kertesz.

[Mckinley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful collection of black and whites from Hungary (1910s), Paris (1920s) and New York (1930s).