Bruno Barbey (1941 – 2020), who died on this Monday November 9, was a citizen of the world, dedicating his life to documenting conflict and celebrating beauty with sensitivity and understanding. The Moroccan-born photographer of French and Swiss nationality studied photography and graphic arts at the École des Arts et Métiers in Vevey, Switzerland, before embarking on his first major project, The Italians (1961-1964), a career-defining series inspired by Robert Frank’s landmark monograph, The Americans.
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With the understanding that “photography is the only language that can be understood anywhere in the world,” Barbey began his relationship with Magnum Photos in 1964, becoming an associate member in 1966 and a full member in 1968, before serving as Magnum Vice President for Europe in 1978-79 and President of Magnum International from 1992-1995.
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