Willy Ronis

Willy Ronis pursued studies in law and music, and also learned the craft of photography in his father's local studio during the 1930s. In 1937, he embarked on his journey as an independent photo-reporter. During the war, he sought refuge in Provence and put his camera down for four years. After the liberation, he picked up photography again, working for renowned publications such as Time, Life, Point de Vue, Regards, and joined the Rapho agency.

In the 1950s, he became a member of the Groupe des XV, advocating for photography to be recognized as an artistic discipline. By the late 1950s, he began teaching photography. In 1957, he was awarded the gold medal at the Venice Biennale.

In the 1970s, he left Paris to settle in Provence, first in Gordes and later in L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, continuing his photography teachings in the region. In 1979, he was honored with the Grand Prix National des Arts et des Lettres, followed by the Nadar Prize in 1981 for his book "Sur le fil du hasard." Subsequently, he had numerous publications and exhibitions in cities like Paris, New York, London, Moscow, and more.

In 2001, he stopped photographing and donated his life's work to the State. As one of the last representatives of humanist photography, he passed away in September 2009.

SELECTIVE BIBLIOGRAPHY :

• PARIS RONIS - artist: Willy Ronis ; 2018 ; Flammarion ; bilingual edition

• WILLY RONIS BY WILLY RONIS: THE MASTER PHOTOGRAPHER’S UNPUBLISHED ALBUMS - author: Matthieu Rivallin ; 2018 ; Flammarion

• WILLY RONIS - authors: Alexander Gaude, Jean-Claude Gautrand, Markus Müller and Ann-Katrin Hahn ; 2013 ; Kehrer Verlag ; bilingual edition

• WILLY RONIS: LA VIE EN PASSANT - authors: Sylvia Bohmer and Matthias Harder ; 2005 ; Prestel ; bilingual edition

• WILLY RONIS - directed by Jean-Claude Gautrand ; 2005 ; Taschen

• WILLY RONIS - author: Paul Ryan ; 2002 ; Phaidon Press

• SUNDAYS BY THE RIVER - author: Noel Simsolo ; 1999 ; Smithsonian Books

• WILLY RONIS: PHOTOGRAPHS, 1926-1995 - author: Peter Hamilton ; 1995 ; Museum of Modern Art

• WILLY RONIS, 1934-1987 - author: Hiromi Nakamura ; 1991 ; Editions Treville

• ON CHANCE’S EDGE - artist: Willy Ronis ; 1991 ; Contrejour