Book: Henri Cartier Bresson: The Modern Century

An appropriately monumental work to accompany MoMA's current Cartier-Bresson exhibition, The Modern Century is a visual travelogue through the photographer's long career.
From the 1930s, when Cartier-Bresson helped pioneer street photography through to the raw photojournalism of the post-war era and essays on the emerging cultural and political landscape, The Modern Century is a rich document for devotees of stark, emotive imagery.
The book contains some 300 images from the MoMA exhibition, as well as exhaustive essays on Cartier-Bresson's travels (complete with annotated maps), his publications and contributions, as well as biographical details.
HCB's energy and exceptional timing are unrivalled in the history of photography. His involvement with the creation of Magnum, along with Robert Capa and Bill Vandivert, was to shape the way the media consumed, created and sought out visual imagery.
'Henri Cartier-Bresson: The Modern Century'. Juvisy, France. 1938. Courtesy of Henri Cartier-Bresson/ Magnum Photos.
'Henri Cartier-Bresson: The Modern Century'. Irene and Frederic Joliot-Curie, Paris. 1945. Courtesy of Henri Cartier-Bresson/ Magnum Photos.
'Henri Cartier-Bresson: The Modern Century'. World's Fair, Brussels. 1958. Courtesy of Henri Cartier-Bresson/ Magnum Photos.'
'Henri Cartier-Bresson: The Modern Century'. Hyeres, France. 1932. Courtesy of Henri Cartier-Bresson/ Magnum Photos.
'Henri Cartier-Bresson: The Modern Century'. Sumatra, Indonesia 1950. Courtesy of Henri Cartier-Bresson/ Magnum Photos.
'Henri Cartier-Bresson: The Modern Century'. New York City. 1946. Courtesy of Henri Cartier-Bresson/ Magnum Photos.
'Henri Cartier-Bresson: The Modern Century'. San Fermines, Pamplona, Spain. 1952. Courtesy of Henri Cartier-Bresson/ Magnum Photos.
'Henri Cartier-Bresson: The Modern Century'. Shanghai, China. 1948. Courtesy of Henri Cartier-Bresson/ Magnum Photos.
'Henri Cartier-Bresson: The Modern Century'. Greenfield, Indiana. 1960. Courtesy of Henri Cartier-Bresson/ Magnum Photos.
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
Jonathan Bell has written for Wallpaper* magazine since 1999, covering everything from architecture and transport design to books, tech and graphic design. He is now the magazine’s Transport and Technology Editor. Jonathan has written and edited 15 books, including Concept Car Design, 21st Century House, and The New Modern House. He is also the host of Wallpaper’s first podcast.
-
Dine within a rationalist design gem at the newly opened Cucina Triennale
Cucina Triennale is the latest space to open at Triennale Milano, a restaurant and a café by Luca Cipelletti and Unifor, inspired by the building's 1930s design
-
The collections you might have missed this S/S 2026 menswear season
Between the headliners in Paris, Milan and Florence, a few off-schedule displays are deserving of honourable mention – from Martine Rose’s sexually-charged portrait of Kensington Market to Sander Lak’s appointment-only namesake debut
-
Meet artist Michael McGregor, using hotel stationery as his canvas
Michael McGregor unveils an exclusive postcard set made with notepads from The Luxury Collection properties in Minneapolis, San Francisco and Savannah
-
We are all fetishists, says Anastasia Fedorova in her new book, which takes a deep dive into kink
In ‘Second Skin’, writer and curator Fedorova takes a tour through the materials, objects and power dynamics we have fetishised
-
The gayest love story ever told: Jeremy Atherton Lin's memoir is a tribute to home
In 'Deep House: The Gayest Love Story Ever Told', Jeremy Atherton Lin mixes memoir with a historical deep-dive into marriage equlaity
-
The glory years of the Cannes Film Festival are captured in a new photo book
‘Cannes’ by Derek Ridgers looks back on the photographer's time at the Cannes Film Festival between 1984 and 1996
-
Taschen’s sexy record covers are hitting all the right notes
Taschen has been through 50 years of album art for its latest tome, ‘Sexy Record Covers’
-
‘Dressed to Impress’ captures the vivid world of everyday fashion in the 1950s and 1960s
A new photography book from The Anonymous Project showcases its subjects when they’re dressed for best, posing for events and celebrations unknown
-
Daniel Arsham’s new monograph collates the works of the auto-obsessed American artist
‘Arsham Motorsport’ is two volumes of inspiration, process and work, charting artist Daniel Arsham’s oeuvre inspired by the icons and forms of the automotive industry
-
Era-defining photographer David Bailey guides us through the 1980s in a new tome not short of shoulder pads and lycra
From Yves Saint Laurent to Princess Diana, London photographer David Bailey dives into his 1980s archive in a new book by Taschen
-
Inside Joan Didion’s unseen diary of personal relationships and post-therapy notes
A newly discovered diary by Joan Didion is soon to be published. Titled 'Notes to John', the journal documents her relationship with her daughter, husband, alcoholism, and depression