USA. Nevada. US actress Marilyn MONROE on the Nevada desert going over her lines for a difficult scene she is about to play with Clarke GABLE in the film “The Misfits” by John HUSTON. 1960 / Magnum Photos

MAGNUM: THE 70^TH ANNIVERSARY OF MAGNUM PHOTOS

In 1947, exactly 70 years ago, on the terrace of the Museum of Modern Art of New York the photographic agency Magnum Photos was born.
An idea originated from the reflections made by Robert Capa during the Spanish Civil War together with other photographers such as Henri Cartier-Bresson, George Rodger, David Seymour and William Vandivert.

Spanish painter Salvador DALI. “Dali Atomicus.” 1948 / Magnum Photos

There will be several global events to celebrate Magnum’s 70^th anniversary, and also in Italy three cities will join in the celebrations: Turin, Cremona and Brescia.

Those photographers created Magnum Photos to protect their job, giving it a professional dignity both from an ethical and economic point of view.
They created a group in order to become self-employed workers, by deciding together which project to work on and which services to sell to magazines, always being owners of the negatives.
Working together at the Magnum Photos, allowed many of those photographers to focus on specific geographical areas: Cartier-Bresson chose Asia; Seymour focused on Europe; Rodger on Africa; whereas Capa was always ready to leave in order to follow a war, anywhere it broke out.

Since that day in 1947, Magnum’s images have changed the way history of world is told, and still today Magnum Photos with its branches in New York, Paris, London and Tokyo is the most authoritative source of images.

USA. New York City. 1955. James DEAN haunted Times Square. For a novice actor in the fifties this was the place to go. The Actors Studio, directed by Lee STRASBERG, was in its heyday and just a block away / Magnum Photos

JAPAN. Tokyo. Courtyard of the Meiji shrine. 1951 / Magnum Photos

Erich Lessing: German Border Patrol at maneuvers, Coburg, Germany, 1953 copy: © Erich Lessing / Magnum Photos

The events to celebrate Magnum 70^th anniversary in Italy

In Turin, at the Fondazione Camera-Centro Italiano per la Fotografia, the exhibition “L’Italia di Magnum. Da Cartier-Bresson a Pellegrin” (March 2nd- May 21st 2017).

At the Museo del Violino in Cremona “Life-Magnum. Il fotogiornalismo che ha fatto la storia” (March 4th-June 10th 2017).

In Brescia from March 7^th the first edition of “Brescia Photo Festival 2017” will start, where exhibitions and showings will narrate Magnum Photos.

Worldwide events

Magnum Photos celebrates its 70th anniversary with a series of worldwide events.

Paris – Magnum Photos in the Paris Metro
From the 28th of February 2017, Magnum photographs will be displayed throughout the corridors and hallways of 11 stations of the Parisian Metro, on the invitation of RATP (the Paris public transport operator).

New York – Early Magnum: On & In New York
Magnum Photos launches its 70th-anniversary program in New York with an exhibition of some of the agency’s earliest photographs taken around the city.
29 March 2017 – 28 April 2017
The National Arts Club, Grand Gallery, 15 Gramercy Park South, New York, NY, 10003

London – David Hurn’s Swaps
Martin Parr curates a selection of David Hurn’s print collection, built mostly through swapping.
Photo London, The Embankment Gallery West. Somerset House (London)