Henri Cartier-Bresson's photography came to define the 20th century. This book tells his life story through his images: all the major events from his youth to his death in 2004 are described, contextualized and analysed in the light of his photographic work. From his early encounters with the Surrealists, his film work and his experiences in the SecondWorldWar, to the development of his own personal aesthetic, the concept of the 'decisive moment', and the foundation of Magnum Photos, his influence on the world has been profound and unforgettable.

In this landmark photography publication and accompanying exhibition, Clement Cheroux demonstrates how Magnum Photos owes its pre-eminence to the ability of its photographers to encompass and navigate the points between photography as art object and photography as documentary evidence. A Magnum photograph can be expressive and bear witness at the same time. Magnum Manifesto is organized into three main parts: Part 1 (1947-1968) views the Magnum archive through a humanist lens, focusing on post-war ideals of commonality and utopianism. Part 2 (1969-1989) shows a world fragmenting, with a focus on subcultures, minorities and outsiders. Part 3 (1990-present day) charts the ways in which Magnum photographers have captured - and continue to capture - a world in flux and under threat. Featuring both group and individual projects, the book includes contact sheets, notebooks, magazine spreads and other previously unseen material to accompany the photographs. Complete with extensive texts by Clement Cheroux and photographic historian Clara Bouveresse, Magnum Manifesto is an essential purchase for anyone seeking to understand the very best in photography.