'Most Generous Magnum Member Gone'

Martine Franck, Pauline Doohan's and Brian Gallagher's wedding,
Tory Island, County Donegal, Ireland, 1996.

R.I.P. Martine Franck, 1938–2012. She died yesterday, after a protracted illness. A "shy" but accomplished photographer, she joined the Vu Agency in the 1960s, and became a full member of Magnum Photos in 1983. She was Henri Cartier-Bresson's wife and President of the Henri Cartier-Bresson Foundation.

Martine Franck, U.S. photographer Paul Strand, Orgeval, France, 1972.

There's a thoughtful and informative obituary by Olivier Laurent at the British Journal of Photography website, and several portfolios available to look at at Magnum.

Martine Franck, Shechen Monastery, Bodnath, Nepal, 1996.
(Photos courtesy Magnum.)

The title of this post was a tweet by Magnum photographer John Vink.

Mike
(Thanks to Pete)

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Original contents copyright 2012 by Michael C. Johnston and/or the bylined author. All Rights Reserved.

Comments

[ann]

So sad to hear of her death. She was a wonderful photographer. Ann

[Manuel]

R. I. P., Martine. It's a sad day for photography.

[Mickld]

Sad news indeed.

I was taken by your choice of photograph - the wedding on Tory Island. I happen to be going to my favourite holiday location tomorrow in Donegal which looks onto Tory Island, an island I've been taking pictures of for years but have yet to visit. My mother, who also passed away this year after a protracted illness, painted the beach and harbour from which a ferry services the island. This was a recent gift from her which has pride of place on my livingroom wall.

Seeing Martine's photo on your site makes a small world feel closer, and the familiar view a little more poignant.

[Kenneth Tanaka]

Martine really was a very talented photographer in her own right. Her work is worth noting, saving and showing.

[CMS]

It is sad to hear about her passing.

She was a great photographer. Compared to her husband's work, she did quite similar pictures, but in a more intimate way. As much as I admire HCB's pictures, they can also be a tad distant, and follow a very intellectual approach. I could never really figure out whose work I like more.