David 'Chim' Seymour: Searching for the Light. 1911–1956

Carole Naggar

Published by De Gruyter Oldenbourg 2022

David 'Chim' Seymour

Searching for the Light. 1911–1956

Carole Naggar

Volume 4 in the series Appearances – Studies in Visual Research

https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110706345

Overview
Contents

About this book

"He used his camera like a doctor would use a stethoscope in order to diagnose the state of the heart. His own was vulnerable.", Cartier-Bresson wrote about David Seymour, who liked to be called Chim.

Chim is best known as one of the cofounders of photojournalism’s famous cooperative Magnum Photos. Weaving Chim’s life and work, this book discovers this empathetic photographer who has been called "The First Human Rights Photographer".

In 1947, Chim was one of the four cofounders of the Magnum Photos cooperative with Robert Capa, Henri Cartier-Bresson and George Rodger. He also wrote Magnum’s 1955 bylaws, which are still in effect today. But he is the only one of those famous photographers who does not have a full biography to his name. This book examines his life and work from Poland to France to the Spanish Civil War, his work for British intelligence during World War II, his reportage on Europe’s children after the war, his reportages on Italian actors, illiteracy and religious festivals in Southern Italy, his coverage of Israel’s beginnings before his 1956 death during the Suez war. His complex itinerary is emblematic of the displacements and passages of the XXth century.

• The life and work of the celebrated photojournalist David Seymour
• With numerous photographs from the Magnum Photos archive
• Explores the work of the "First Human Rights Photographer"

Author / Editor information

Carole Naggar, New York, USA.

Reviews

"Her [Carole Naggar’s] excellent biography should serve to rekindle the public’s interest in one of the most compelling photographers of the twentieth century." Sebastiaan Faber in: The Volunteer, 18.8.2022

***

"With her grandiose biography, Carole Naggar has opened up this uncompromisingly humanistic album, which is pervaded by melancholy beauty, and brought it into the 21st century." Irme Schaber in: Photonews, 12/2022-1/2023

Topics

Frontmatter Publicly Available Download PDF	I
Table of Contents Publicly Available Download PDF	VII
Quote Publicly Available Download PDF	IX
Abbreviations Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	1
Prologue: Something Like an Owl… and Something Like a Buddha Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	3
Chapter 1: Peace and War. 1911–1929 Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	9
Chapter 2: The City of Books. 1929–1931 Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	15
Chapter 3: Becoming Chim. 1932–1933 Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	27
Chapter 4: Front Populaire. 1934–1936 Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	41
Chapter 5: The Good Cause. Spring 1936–February 1939 Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	61
Chapter 6: From Chim to David Seymour. 1939–1945 Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	95
Chapter 7: Welcome to the Time Inc. Stink Club. 1947–1948 Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	111
Chapter 8: Children of Europe. 1948 Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	135
Chapter 9: Return to Poland: An Obliterated Past. 1948 Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	149
Chapter 10: I am a Mediterranean Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	163
Chapter 11: Tracing the Letters. 1950 Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	177
Chapter 12: Generation X: This is our Character, this is our Strength. 1952 Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	185
Chapter 13: Of Saints, Snakes, and Angels. 1951–1955 Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	193
Chapter 14: Under Greek Skies. 1951–1954 Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	203
Chapter 15: Pinups, Snails, Pigeons, and Spaghetti. 1950–1955 Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	213
Chapter 16: I Found a Home: Israel. 1951–1955 Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	237
Chapter 17: I Want to be into Things. November 10, 1956 Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	255
Epilogue: His Name Opened Doors. Chim’s Legacy Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	265
Timeline Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	273
Appendix Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	276
Selected Bibliography Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	278
Acknowledgements Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	286
Also by Carole Naggar (selection) Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	288
Index Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	289

(Deutsch)

Language: English
Publisher: De Gruyter Oldenbourg
Audience: Scholars, Librarians, and Students of Public History, Photography, and Visual Studies
Pages
- Front matter: 8
- Main content: 294
Illustrations
- Illustrations: 110
- Coloured Illustrations: 1
Keywords: documentary photograph; Spanish Civil War; Magnum Photos; Jewish studies

eBook

Published: June 21, 2022
ISBN: 9783110706345

Hardcover

Published: June 21, 2022
ISBN: 9783110704167