Having seen some Cartier-Bresson European images, I decided to look at pictures he took in the United States to see how he used his skills to capture American life.
http://www.moma.org/interactives/exhibitions/2010/henricartierbresson/#/themes/6/48.html
1947 - New York
This image can be seen in several ways. First, it seems to be "stacked" asymmetrically from left to right as the eye travels from river level, past the rail tracks, the highway and upward to the buildings in the upper right hand corner. At the same time the roadway creates depth drawing the eye to the distant horizon.
The mysterious shadow falling across the upper third of the picture causes the viewer to wonder just what created it. The viewer also has to wonder just how Cartier-Bresson achieved this view point.
http://www.moma.org/interactives/exhibitions/2010/henricartierbresson/#/themes/6/57.html
1960 - Louisiana
In this composition Cartier-Bresson presents a social statement on life in the segregated South where African-Americans and whites lived side-by-side but were separated. The white pole in the picture seems to symbolize the color barrier. Except for the young black man in the lower part of the picture, no one is looking at anyone else.
The inclusion of the American flag with it's ideal of unity, provides a sad irony to the situation.
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