Martin Munkácsi (1896-1963, born in Cluj Napoca) is considered the most significant pioneering figure of modern photo journalism: he broke fashion photography out of the studios and set the static medium of photography in motion. He was the ideal of such world-renowned photographers as Henry Cartier-Bresson or Richard Avedon. He was also the most well-paid celebrity photographer of his age. Milestones along his path towards world fame include Budapest, Berlin and New York, where he worked for the most prominent magazines of his age: starting with Pesti Napló, Berliner Illustrirte Zeitung, Uhu and Die Woche, his photographs got to be published in the most influential world press magazines: Harper`s Bazaar and Life. The first test issue of the latter was created by him in cooperation with Kurt Safranski. His brilliant photo essays and profound photo reportages on the everyday lives of various social classes deeply influenced the great figures of art photography, while his spectacular fashion series had a strong influence on the image of the modern, successful, independent and dynamic metropolitan woman of the West. His creative career reached a further zenith with his extraordinary portraits of such Hollywood celebrities as Katherine Hepburn, Leslie Howard, Fred Astaire, and Marlene Dietrich. His photographs are not only among the outstanding achievements of Hungarian press photography, but are also essential to the world history of photography.
Visitors are welcome between 4-6 June 2010 to Martin Mukácsi Intro, a preliminary viewing of the exhibition to come. The selection from the material of the Hungarian Museum of Photography provides a sneak preview of the world-famous Hungarian photographer’s oeuvre. The coming exhibition, so far the most comprehensive show of his life’s work, will be on view from autumn 2010 in Budapest after Hamburg, Berlin and New York. The monumental retrospective show entitled Martin Munkácsi: Think While You Shoot is graciously sponsored by the Martin Munkácsi Heritage, ullstein bild and the F.C. Gundlach Foundation, and will be on view from 1 October 2010 - 9 January 2011 at Ludwig Museum.