22 Facts About Robert Doisneau

Robert Doisneau was a champion of humanist photography and, with Henri Cartier-Bresson, a pioneer of photojournalism.

Robert Doisneau was appointed a Chevalier of the Legion of Honour in 1984 by then French president, Francois Mitterrand.

Robert Doisneau is remembered for his modest, playful, and ironic images of amusing juxtapositions, mingling social classes, and eccentrics in contemporary Paris streets and cafes.

Robert Doisneau's work gives unusual prominence and dignity to children's street culture; returning again and again to the theme of children at play in the city, unfettered by parents.

Robert Doisneau was forced to try freelance advertising, engraving, and postcard photography to earn his living.

Robert Doisneau worked at the Rapho agency until the outbreak of World War II, whereupon he was drafted into the French army as both a soldier and photographer.

Robert Doisneau was in the army until 1940 and, from then until the end of the war in 1945, used his draughtsmanship, lettering artistry, and engraving skills to forge passports and identification papers for the French Resistance.

Robert Doisneau returned to freelance photography and sold photographs to Life and other international magazines.

Robert Doisneau briefly joined the Alliance Photo Agency but rejoined the Rapho agency in 1946 and remained with them throughout his working life, despite receiving an invitation from Henri Cartier-Bresson to join Magnum Photos.

The editors believed he would bring a fresh and more casual look the magazine but Robert Doisneau did not enjoy photographing beautiful women in elegant surroundings; he preferred street photography.

Le Groupe des XV was established in 1946 in Paris to promote photography as art and drawing attention to the preservation of French photographic heritage, and Robert Doisneau joined in 1950 and participated alongside Rene-Jacques, Willy Ronis, and Pierre Jahan.

Robert Doisneau continued to work, producing children's books, advertising photography, and celebrity portraits including Alberto Giacometti, Jean Cocteau, Fernand Leger, Georges Braque, and Pablo Picasso.

Robert Doisneau worked with writers and poets such as Blaise Cendrars and Jacques Prevert, and he credited Prevert with giving him the confidence to photograph the everyday street scenes that most people simply ignored.

The photography of Robert Doisneau has had a revival since his death in 1994.

The court action forced Robert Doisneau to reveal that he posed the shot using Francoise Delbart and Jacques Carteaud, lovers whom he had just seen kissing, but had not photographed initially because of his natural reserve; he approached them and asked if they would repeat the kiss.

In 1936, Robert Doisneau married Pierrette Chaumaison whom he had met in 1934 when she was cycling through a village where he was on holiday.

Robert Doisneau's wife died in 1993 suffering from Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease.

Robert Doisneau died six months later in 1994, having had a triple heart bypass and was suffering from acute pancreatitis.

Robert Doisneau discovered a world of lies, and it hurt him.

Robert Doisneau was in many ways a shy and humble man, similar to his photography, still delivering his own work at the height of his fame.

Robert Doisneau lived in southern Paris throughout his life.

Robert Doisneau is buried in the cemetery at Raizeux beside his wife.