‘Conditions of the Heart: on Empathy and Connection in Photography’
"Chim picked up his camera the way a doctor takes his stethoscope out of his bag, applying his diagnosis to the condition of the heart."
— Henri Cartier-Bresson
_____
As Magnum Photos approaches its 70th birthday, the agency explores the engagement at the heart of documentary photography through a Square Print Project inspired by the work of David "Chim" Seymour. This project is part of a series examining the lasting legacy of Magnum co-founders Seymour, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Robert Capa and George Rodger and how their work informs and influences the agency — and wider photographic practice — today.
The connection between photographer and subject is a vital element in the power of an individual photograph. In turn, the image has the power to inspire, inform and communicate human engagement. Seymour's empathetic relationship to his photographic subjects led him to engage deeply with the consequences of WW2 in Europe; in particular, he made some of his best-known work with the war orphans he photographed for UNICEF in 1948.
"We are only trying to tell a story. Let the 17th-century painters worry about the effects. We've got to tell it now, let the news in, show the hungry face, the broken land, anything so that those who are comfortable may be moved a little."
— David Seymour
For this Square Print Project, Magnum photographers respond to the theme “Conditions of the Heart” with an image and text that speaks to this human connection, to create a collective body of work featuring classic and contemporary imagery. Their powerful visual authorship defines Magnum and its continued engagement with the stories that matter. Shedding light on our collective humanity, these images and text demonstrate why photography remains so important today.
The Magnum Square Print sale takes place at the Magnum Photos online shop: shop.magnumphotos.com, Oct. 31, 8 a.m. EST to Nov. 4, 6 p.m. EST.
See more news-related photo galleries and follow us on Yahoo News Photo Tumblr.
