“Images à la Sauvette” by Henri Cartier-Bresson
When talking about street photography, the first name that comes to mind is Henri Cartier-Bresson, and the first book that should be in any photographer’s collection is undoubtedly Images à la Sauvette. Or rather, The Decisive Moment, as it was renamed for the English edition. But behind this masterpiece lies a fascinating story of editorial choices, linguistic interpretations, and little-known anecdotes.
The Original Title: An Untranslatable Expression
First published in 1952 by Éditions Verve in France and Simon and Schuster in the United States, the book’s original title, Images à la Sauvette, comes from a French expression that is difficult to translate literally. “À la sauvette” implies something done hurriedly, on the fly, almost clandestinely, evoking the idea of capturing images spontaneously, without being noticed. However, when the book was introduced to the English-speaking market, the publisher chose a completely different title: The Decisive Moment. This title was directly inspired by Cartier-Bresson’s famous theory of the “decisive moment,” a concept that would go on to influence generations of photographers.
A Revolutionary Book, Inside and Out
Images à la Sauvette was not only a photographic success but also a groundbreaking work from an editorial standpoint. The cover design was created by none other than Henri Matisse, who crafted an essential and elegant composition. Additionally, the book featured over 120 photographs selected by Cartier-Bresson, taken during his travels across Europe, Asia, and America, offering an extraordinary perspective on his vision of photography as “capturing life in the act.”
Lesser-Known Curiosities
One of the lesser-known aspects of this book is its limited print run. The original edition soon became a collector’s item, to the point that for decades, it was nearly impossible to find. It wasn’t until 2014 that the publishing house Steidl decided to reprint the volume in a facsimile edition, preserving the aesthetics and quality of the original, allowing new generations of photographers to access this masterpiece.
Another interesting detail concerns the book’s introduction: Cartier-Bresson referenced figures from philosophy and art such as Zeno and Cézanne, demonstrating how his approach to photography was influenced by profound aesthetic and philosophical thought, far beyond mere chance snapshots.
Why Read It Today
Even though more than seventy years have passed since its first publication, The Decisive Moment remains an essential read for any street photographer. Not only does it contain some of the most iconic images of 20th-century photography, but it also conveys a philosophy of photography that goes beyond technique: the ability to anticipate, feel, and narrate the world in a single, unrepeatable instant.
If you want to immerse yourself in the authentic spirit of street photography, this book is a must-have in your collection.
