Swimming pool (by Alain Capeilleres), 1976

Martine Franck was a Belgian photographer who spent much of her life in France. She excelled at the documentary and portrait photography styles, and was a renowned, influential artist. Her love of art began with her father, who was an art collector. Martine Franck began independently studying art history while in high school, and the frequent trips she took with her father to museums and galleries during her childhood fueled her desire to become an art curator. After studying art history at France's Ecole du Louvre and the University of Madrid, Martine Franck ventured into photography. After working as an assistant photographer at Time-Life, she honed her skill as a freelance photographer for notable magazines, photo agencies, and venues. She held the distinction of being one of very few women to become a full member of the Magnum photographic cooperative. Martine Franck preferred to shoot in black and white, and her photographs have been collected into several books. The subjects of her documentary pieces include notable cultural figures, as well as people representing marginalized groups. In 2003, Martine Franck helped found the Henri Cartier-Bresson Foundation in honor of her husband, photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson.