Three Reasons Édouard Boubat is the Quintessential Humanist Photographer

Humanist photography is one of my favorite periods to study and appreciate. The photographers of this era are masters at celebrating small moments in everyday life. My favorites intuitively find the “decisive moment,” for which the movement is known for. At the same time, they create a masterfully crafted image through composition and light.

First of all, the most obvious thing that makes Edouard Boubat a quintessential humanist photographer is the timing of his work. He is of the generation of French photographers in the postwar era of the 1930s-1960s. He was associate with pillars of the movement such as Robert Doiseneau and Henri Cartier-Bresson. The fact that they are postwar is the driving force behind their ethos.

Another reason is that Boubat, like the other humanists, witnessed the horrors of war that ravaged Europe. Postwar, he decides to focus on the positive aspects of life rather than sitting in the trauma of the previous decades. He refers to his work “a peace offering” and considers it visual healing. It seems that seeing so much suffering during the war gives him a knack for observing the best of humanity and the joy in simple moments.

Lastly, the Holden Luntz Gallery describes his work as “warm, lyrical images that celebrated the poetry of everyday life.” He has a gift for capturing moments that exude tenderness and relish life’s quieter moments.  Boubat tells people “To those who ask me why?, I just reply, Because I love.” This quote gets to the heart of his work. His subjects are often children playing in the streets, lovers embracing, workers resting, and any small moments that speak to the humanity of life around us. His work is a visual analogy for stop and smell the roses. Viewers are encouraged to pause and appreciate a tender moment.

If you haven’t heard of the Humanist movement or spent much time observing the work, I highly encourage you to spend some time with it. The images are incredibly thoughtful and warm and any photographer will learn from these masters.