HENRI CARTIER-BRESSON (1908–2004) Shanghai, 1949

Vintage silver print 21,8 x 31,3 cm (8.6 x 12.3 in) Photographer's agency credit stamp, “LIFE PHOTO BY CARTIER-BRESSON” stamp and various numerical stamps on the reverse, label with typographic description and several handwritten notations on the reverse Henri Cartier-Bresson war beinahe ein Jahr (Dezember 1948 bis Oktober 1949) im Auftrag von Life in China und dokumentierte die letzten Monate der Kuomintang-Regierung und die ersten Monate der Volksrepublik. Der Datumsstempel (9 Oct 1949) auf der Rückseite bestätigt, dass diese Aufnahme kurz nach der offiziellen Übernahme der Kommunisten entstand. Die rückseitige Pressebeschriftung (“Students in Communist China are urged to forego their books and their classrooms for banners and parades whenever the Party calls”) erklärt, dass es sich um Studenten handelt, die Pro-Mao Banner halten. Henri Cartier-Bresson spent almost a year (December 1948 to October 1949) in China on contract for Life, documenting the final months of the Kuomintang administration and the first months of the People's Republic. The date stamp on the back of the photograph (9 Oct 1949) confirms that this picture was taken shortly after the Communist takeover. The press caption on the back ("Students in Communist China are urged to forego their books and their classrooms for banners and parades whenever the party calls") explains that it is students who are holding the pro-Mao banners.