André Kertész photographs, 1919-1984

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Summary

Creator:
Archive of Documentary Arts (Duke University) and Kertész, André
Abstract:
Collection of 31 black-and-white photographs by André Kertész provides a sampling of his compositional styles and topical interests. Taken from 1919 through 1984, the images chiefly feature street scenes from Paris (1920-1984), and several each from Budapest and New York City. There are also two female nude studies from his 1930s series "Distortions," two still lifes, and several landscapes. The majority of the gelatin silver prints are sized 8x10 inches, with four measuring 11x14 inches. On the backs are various markings, including dates and identifying marks by Kertész and others, with many bearing a Kertész estate stamp. Acquired as part of the Archive of Documentary Arts at Duke University.
Extent:
1.0 Linear Foot (2 boxes)
Language:
Materials in English
Collection ID:
RL.11566

Background

Scope and content:

Collection of 31 black-and-white prints by noted photographer André Kertész provides a portfolio representing the full range of his compositional styles and topical interests. Taken from 1919 through the 1980s, the end years of his career, the images chiefly feature street scenes from Paris in the 1920s and 1930s and 1980s, with a few street scenes from Budapest (1919 and 1920), and a handful from New York City from his later years in that city, with one from 1939. There are two photographs from the 1930s series "Distortions," featuring female nudes with distortion effects. Several images include cats and dogs. There are a handful of landscapes with no known location, and two still lifes.

The majority of the prints are sized 8x10 inches, with four measuring 11x14 inches. They bear various markings on the backs, including crop marks, dates, and identifying marks by Kertész and others. All but five are marked with the Kertész estate stamp; several bear the photographer's stamp.

Acquired as part of the Archive of Documentary Arts at Duke University.

Biographical / historical:

Born in Hungary, André Kertész (1894-1985) was known for his mastery of composition with light, his experimental photography, and for his street photography and portraiture. After living in Paris for a decade and developing his style as a photographer and photojournalist, he immigrated to the U.S. in 1936, where he continued his work. After World War II, Kertész became a naturalized U.S. citizen, returning in subsequent years to France and other places around the world to take photographs.

After practicing as a photojournalist in Europe and in the United States for a good part of his career, in the early 1960s he pulled away from this type of work for good, and enjoyed a period of growing and widespread acknowledgment of the quality of his work. He died in 1985 in New York City.

Acquisition information:
The André Kertész photographs were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book Manuscript Library as a gift in 2017.
Processing information:

Processed by Sylvia Herbold, encoded by Paula Jeannet, December 2017-January 2018.

Accession(s) represented in this collection guide: 2017-0217

Arrangement:

Prints are arranged chronologically by year.

Physical facet:
31 photographic prints
Dimensions:
8x10 and 11x14 inches
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Contents

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Restrictions:

Collection is open for research. Images may only be used for educational, non-commercial purposes; any other use requires the photographer's permission.

Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection.

All or portions of this collection may be housed off-site in Duke University's Library Service Center. The library may require up to 48 hours to retrieve these materials for research use.

Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library to use this collection.

Terms of access:

The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to Duke University. For more information, consult the copyright section of the Regulations and Procedures of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library.

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Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], André Kertész photographs, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.