Review by Simn Cherpitel

The Decisive Moment by Henri Cartier-Bresson

is arguably the most important photo book of the 20th century, of supreme interest to photojournalist or documentary photographers and for the history of photography in general. Unfortunately, it is out-of-print & even the most raggedy copies sell to collectors for a minimum $500.

Although many or most of the bookÕs 126 images have been reprinted individually & in other compilations of Bresson's work, The Decisive Moment collection itself is unique in providing an international portrait or impression of humanity during the two decades prior to its publication in 1952. The arrangement & juxtapositions of the images have never been repeated, like the carefully sequenced songs in an album from a great rock group.

Cartier-Bresson wrote in his introduction: ÒI craved to seize the whole essence, in the confines of one single photograph, of some situation that was in the process of unrolling itself before my eyes.Ó

Simon & Schuster, the publisher, & Magnum Photos which represents the artistÕs estate, need to be urged to reprint the book.