Willy Ronis
French, 1910–2009
Le Petit Parisien, 1952
Gelatin silver print
Image: 13.39 x 9.84 in. (34 x 25 cm.)
Sheet: 15.75 x 11.81 in. (40 x 30 cm.)
Signed on recto. Titled, dated and copyright stamped on verso.
Printed 1997
Lot ID141895
Estimate
3,000—5,000 USD
French photographer Willy Ronis (1910–2009) is remembered for his lyrical images of post-war Paris and Provence. As a humanist, Ronis looked to capture the spirit of ordinary people, in both staged and spontaneous scenes. "Le Petit Parisien" is one of his most iconic images, depicting a young boy running home with the quintessential baguette. Smiling and full of life, this little character reflects the growing prosperity of the French capital, after the devastation of the world wars.
Influenced by his peers Henri Cartier-Bresson, Robert Doisneau, and Brassaï, Willy Ronis pursued a career in photojournalism and was the first French photographer to work for Life magazine. His work has been exhibited throughout the United States and Europe, including at The Museum of Modern Art in New York and at the Palais de Tokyo in Paris. He has received numerous awards, among them the Venice Biennale's Gold Medal, the Grand Prix National des Arts et des Lettres for photography, and the Prix Nadar for his 1980 book Sur le Fil du Hazard.
Provenance:
Private Collection, France