Jean-Philippe Charbonnier - should be much better known

[snusmumriken]

Back in 1982 or '3, I was killing time between trains in Stockholm, and happened across a small exhibition of photos by Jean-Philippe Charbonnier, which made a big impression on me.
[EDIT: I found a piece of paper I picked up at the show: it was 1984, at Fotograficentrum, Malmskillnadsgatan 45.]
I have searched on the internet several times since then, but failed to find more than a few of his photos. However, today I hit on this page in Getty Images. In fact, 55 pages of wonderful photos by JPC. I don't understand why he isn't as well known as Robert Doisneau and Willy Ronis.

There was one photo in that long-ago exhibition that stuck in my mind. It showed an exhausted athlete hanging with his arms draped around the shoulders of two supporters, his head drooped. I think the photo was captioned 'Descente de croix' - but anyway the reference was obvious. Sadly, that photo doesn't seem to be in the Getty collection. If anyone knows where it can be seen again, I'd be very grateful for the tip.

 

[Alex Benjamin]

I had seen his name come up a few times. He's one of the great documenters of Paris culture in the 40s and 50s.

A couple of famous ones:

Miles Davis and Juliette Greco

Bettina (has a distinct "Avedon" quality to it)

 

[snusmumriken]

UPDATE:

It turns out that the agency representing sales of Charbonnier's photos is Gamma-Rapho. Their website is extremely slow (at least for me) but here is a direct link to the Charbonnier page: http://www.gamma-rapho-expos.com/Photographes/Charbonnier-Jean-Philippe

La Galerie Rouge, Paris (also a slow site) has further information, including exhibitions and bibliography.

The photo 'Descente de croix' which had stuck in my mind (though not quite accurately, it seems!) is this image here:

I hope I can be forgiven for screenshooting it.

 

[Alex Benjamin]

UPDATE:

It turns out that the agency representing sales of Charbonnier's photos is Gamma-Rapho. Their website is extremely slow (at least for me) but here is a direct link to the Charbonnier page: http://www.gamma-rapho-expos.com/Photographes/Charbonnier-Jean-Philippe

La Galerie Rouge, Paris (also a slow site) has further information, including exhibitions and bibliography.

The photo 'Descente de croix' which had stuck in my mind (though not quite accurately, it seems!) is this image here:
View attachment 342336
I hope I can be forgiven for screenshooting it.

Extraordinary photo. Definitely a pietà.

 

[Daniela]

Beautiful work! I had never seen any of it. Thanks for posting other links, the first one didn't work for me.

I've had the same experience like you with the "descente de croix" picture. I think that some images are so evocative that what sticks most with us is the feeling as opposed to exactly what we saw.

 

[Laurent]

First time I heard his name was when he was "interviewed" in Fuji commercials, when they released the four bodies including the AX5.