David 'Chim' Seymour: Searching for the Light. 1911–1956

Description

"He used his camera like a doctor would use a stethoscope in order to diagnose the state of the heart. His own was vulnerable.", Cartier-Bresson wrote about David Seymour, who liked to be called Chim. Chim is best known as one of the cofounders of photojournalism’s famous cooperative Magnum Photos. Weaving Chim’s life and work, this book discovers this empathetic photographer who has been called "The First Human Rights Photographer". In 1947, Chim was one of the four cofounders of the Magnum Photos cooperative with Robert Capa, Henri Cartier-Bresson and George Rodger. He also wrote Magnum’s 1955 bylaws, which are still in effect today. But he is the only one of those famous photographers who does not have a full biography to his name. This book examines his life and work from Poland to France to the Spanish Civil War, his work for British intelligence during World War II, his reportage on Europe’s children after the war, his reportages on Italian actors, illiteracy and religious festivals in Southern Italy, his coverage of Israel’s beginnings before his 1956 death during the Suez war. His complex itinerary is emblematic of the displacements and passages of the XXth century. • The life and work of the celebrated photojournalist David Seymour • With numerous photographs from the Magnum Photos archive • Explores the work of the "First Human Rights Photographer" Table of Contents Quote Abbreviations Prologue: Something Like an Owl… and Something Like a Buddha Chapter 1: Peace and War. 1911–1929 Chapter 2: The City of Books. 1929–1931 Chapter 3: Becoming Chim. 1932–1933 Chapter 4: Front Populaire. 1934–1936 Chapter 5: The Good Cause. Spring 1936–February 1939 Chapter 6: From Chim to David Seymour. 1939–1945 Chapter 7: Welcome to the Time Inc. Stink Club. 1947–1948 Chapter 8: Children of Europe. 1948 Chapter 9: Return to Poland: An Obliterated Past. 1948 Chapter 10: I am a Mediterranean Chapter 11: Tracing the Letters. 1950 Chapter 12: Generation X: This is our Character, this is our Strength. 1952 Chapter 13: Of Saints, Snakes, and Angels. 1951–1955 Chapter 14: Under Greek Skies. 1951–1954 Chapter 15: Pinups, Snails, Pigeons, and Spaghetti. 1950–1955 Chapter 16: I Found a Home: Israel. 1951–1955 Chapter 17: I Want to be into Things. November 10, 1956 Epilogue: His Name Opened Doors. Chim’s Legacy Timeline Appendix Selected Bibliography Acknowledgements Also by Carole Naggar (selection) Index