Martin Munkacsi, 1896-1963 Photo Gallery by Oleg Moiseyenko's Stock Photography at pbase.com

Martin Munkacsi, 1896-1963

"He was the first. He did it first, and today the world of what is called fashion is peopled with Munkacsi's babies, his heirs It was my first lesson in photography, and there were many lessons after, all learned from Munkacsi, though I never met him. He brought a taste for happiness and honesty and a love of women to what was, before him, a joyless, lying art" /Richard Avedon, August, 1963/. "I saw a photograph of three black children running into the sea, and I must say that it is that very photograph which was for me the spark that set fire to the fireworks. It is only that one photograph which influenced me. There is in that image such intensity, spontaneity, such a joy of life, such a prodigy, that I am still dazzled by it even today" /Henri Cartier-Bresson, May, 1977/.

Style in Motion at the Michael Hoppen Gallery is a tribute to the breadth of Munkacsi's vision, in fashion and reportage photography. Beginning in the 1930s, the naturally innovative Munkacsi introduced the snapshot aesthetic which was to revolutionize photography forever. His ability to capture spontaneity with such an acute understanding of style, pattern, form and framing demonstrates his uniquely sophisticated visual sense and understanding of image making, which was to become so influential to so many subsequent photographers.

Beauty gained a new level in Munkacsi's images. This can be clearly seen in his seminal fashion shoot for Harper's Bazaar in 1933 with Lucile Brokow running down the beach with her cape billowing behind her; the first image of the all-American beauty in action. It was a complete break from the staid and static images that emerged from studio shoots, and his approach was enhanced by his collaboration with the editor-in-chief Carmel Snow, and her other famous discovery, the graphic designer Alexey Brodovitch, who knew how to harness Munkacsi's ground-breaking images. Munkacsi knew not only the power of the image, but also the power of the commercial image: "A picture is not worth a thousand words, it's worth a thousand bucks".

Martin Munkacsi, photographing for Harper's Bazaar in Long Island, taking an angle shot of a diver, 1935	Beduin, Egypt, 1929	Boys running into the surf at Lake Tanganyika, ca. 1930	Flight D-LZ 127 'Graf Zeppelin' to Brazil, 1932	Jumping fox terrier, ca. 1930	Fun on the beach—Lunabad, Berlin, 1930
		Brazil, 1932	Brazil, 1932	Brazil, 1932	Operetta soubrette Rosi Barsony in her entrancing grotesque dance
Operetta soubrette Rosi Barsony in her entrancing grotesque dance		Fred Astaire on his Toes, 1936		Lovely autumn: the last warm rays of sunshine, ca. 1929	Lucile Brokaw on the Long Island Beach, 1933
Greta Garbo on vacation, ca. 1932					The Dance Team of Tibor von Halmay and Eva Sylt, ca. 1931
			The Goalkeeper, 1928	The Goalkeeper, 1928
The Goalkeeper, 1928			The Goalkeeper, 1928	Liberia, 1930	Liberia, 1930
Liberia, 1930	Liberia, 1930	Opening of Parliament on March 21, 1933	Opening of Parliament on March 21, 1933, 'Potsdam Day'—"The German Army marches out," 1933	Opening of Parliament on March 21, 1933	Opening of Parliament on March 21, 1933
Opening of Parliament on March 21, 1933	Opening of Parliament on March 21, 1933	Opening of Parliament on March 21, 1933	Opening of Parliament on March 21, 1933	Opening of Parliament on March 21, 1933	Fitness training session at a civilian flight school in Munich, 1928
German Luftwaffe, 1928	German Luftwaffe, 1928	German Luftwaffe, 1928	German Luftwaffe, 1928	German Luftwaffe, 1928	German Luftwaffe, 1928
German Luftwaffe, 1928	German Luftwaffe, 1928	Kids, Kissingen, Germany, 1929	Kids, Kissingen, Germany, 1929	Kids, Kissingen, Germany, 1929	Kids, Kissingen, Germany, 1929
A Field Full of Children, Kissingen, Germany, 1929			At 100 Kilometers - Driver in Hungarian Tourist Trophy Race, 1929
				Karstadt, Germany

comment |

Krisztina		11-Jan-2013 16:34
I saw several photographs of Martin Munkacsi's of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera at a special exhibition at the Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto in January 2013.

Guest		28-Dec-2008 13:27
Yes, there are two books on Martin Munkasci I've found and purchased recently, although it took some searching to find them new and at a reasonable price. Try Amazon for an abbreviated collection of his works and Books A Million for an expansive volume, using his name as your search.

bohdan		02-Nov-2008 10:19
I have just noticed Martin Munkacsi work and i find him ahead of his time. How he captures the moment of time and each of his images tells an individual story about themselves. His understanding of capturing style within the frame makes his work unique. I find it very hard to find his work, does anyone know if there is a book available of Martin Munkacsi

Laura		06-Oct-2008 10:40
i love this pictures (: great.

Agata Rogalska Topa		28-May-2008 21:30
Goodevening Mr. Moiseyenko, Thank you for making my day in away :) Don't know how it is possible, but today is the first time I see Munkacsi work. Well, it is really weird since I am a painter fixed on 20's and 30's photography as an inspiration. Love the process of revealing colorus for previously b&w images, the process takes place in my heart and soul and then on the canvas. Martin Munkacsi is definetely attached to my way of seeing the world meaning his work will definitely appear transformed on my paintings. Have a look at my work if you wish, so you'll understand. Thank you for Martin. All the joy 4U! www.rogalska-topa.pl

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