Agnès Sire, Director of the Fondation Henri Cartier-Bresson
The Prix Henri Cartier-Bresson was created by Robert Delpire in 1989, and is part of the foundation’s activities to promote the work of Henri Cartier-Bresson and, now, Martine Franck. The foundation’s mission is also to support the work of other photographers. Every other year, the prize helps an “established” photographer with a project that would otherwise have been impossible to complete.
The values of curiosity, of supporting creation and professions in risk of disappearing are in line with the values Henri Cartier-Bresson stood for. Hermès is also characterized by a profound curiosity.
Of course, involvement during production is a risk for everyone involved, but this risk is kept in check by the quality of the professionals on the jury, as well as the support given to the winner.
Patronage remains the product of personal meetings. As for the Prix HCB, the departure of American Express, and the Wendel Group, owed itself exclusively to changes in management at the company, which naturally resulted in other changes. It may seem that photography has many patrons, but given the needs, there are never enough of them.
