Jacques-Henri Lartigue was a prominent French photographer and painter. His love for photography started at a young age, where he documented his family’s leisure activities with the camera his father gave him when he was only seven. Lartigue’s early work showcased an immense interest in capturing fleeting moments of joy and spontaneity which were not prevalent during the time.
However, it wasn’t until 1963 when Lartigue gained global recognition for his works. Solo exhibitions in New York and features on Life magazine helped to cement his place as one of the world’s most celebrated photographers.
Lartigue’s portfolio is diverse, covering automobile races, planes, fashion models, and society figures from the Côte d’Azur during the 1920s and 1930s. In fact, some of his works were considered to be among the first visual records of speed when he photographed Delage automobile at the French Grand Prix in 1912.
Lartigue documented La Belle Époque of France through photographs that showed rich cultural traditions while adding a touch of modernity that made them timeless pieces today. Overall Jacques-Henri Lartigue is recognized as one of France’s greatest photographers because of his ability to capture genuine joy throughout decades creating art that will last forever.