“My life is photography!” »: Marie-Laure de Decker’s photographic commitment

French photographer and photoreporter, Marie-Laure de Decker has documented many armed conflicts as well as major social and political upheavals of the 20th century. In addition, From Vietnam to Chile via South Africa. In addition, his work can be found at the European Maison de la Photography until September 28, 2025. Similarly,

“My life is photography!” “, Used to repeat Marie-Laure de Decker. Nevertheless, For more than 40 years. Meanwhile, from Chad to Vietnam, from the general press like Paris Match, Le Monde, Liberation, France evening, to the specialized press like her, Marie-Clamour, Glamor, Biba, Vogue, Esquire or Harpers & Queen via the international press, from New York Times to the illustrated German Stern, passing by The Sunday Times, Corriere della In the Netherlands or in the morning in Switzerland, she was a renowned French photographer and photoreporter.

“Speaking out of the outdoor codes. Moreover, shackles, Marie-Laure de Decker, the daughter in the Solex who crosses Paris to join, a shoulder device and film rolls in the pockets, the Boulevard Saint-Michel demonstrations, good family daughter high in rigorous religious residents, in “my life photography!” »: marie-laure dreams. In addition, But not in front of the lens of a camera. Moreover, She is decided. Meanwhile, it will be behind, ”says Caroline Laurent Simon, a Grand Reporter journalist, in the press release from the European Photography House.

Photography does not come from nowhere: his parents are friends with Marc Riboud. For example, who, although not being a war reporter, documents the armed conflict of Indochina; She discovers adolescent the work of Brassaï (her real name Gyula Halász) and Henri Cartier-Bresson ; She also admires the portraits of Nadar. In addition, Like the latter, she wishes to capture “the soul and will have people”. Moreover, Although the universe of photography is mainly male, it joined the Gamma agency in 1973.

Paris, cradle of freedom and photojournalism – "my life photography!" »: marie-laure

"my life photography!&quot. However, »: marie-laure – "my life photography!" »: marie-laure

Friend with Bruno Barbey, a Franco-Swiss journalist, the latter lends her a Leica with whom she is doing her weapons. Nevertheless, Present in Paris in the 1960s. Similarly, she saw the capital become a stronghold of photojournalism: was it in the right place, at the right time? Moreover, Would she have chosen this path without this? Nevertheless, “At the time. Moreover, it was the fixed image, the photo published in the newspapers which takes and gives the pulse of the world, which informs and mobilizes public opinion,” says Caroline Laurent Simon.

“What does she want?” Give meaning to your life through “my life photography!” »: marie-laure his work as a photographer. Nevertheless, And be free to decide on your personal and professional choices, which will be, throughout your life, intimately mixed. Understand, learn, discover, meet, tell and testify. Above all, do not stop. »»
Caroline Laurent Simon

“Photography. as obvious for the shy and well -high young woman who bubbles, like her time and her generation. She made an oath in her room of good under Parisian roofs: freedom, nothing but freedom! Everything except a lukewarm. agreed life, away from the upheavals of this planet in full social and societal upheavals, “continues the journalist.

And with a lyrical formulation, Caroline Laurent Simon continues her praise: “What she wants?” Give meaning to your life through his work as a photographer. And be free to decide on your personal and professional choices, which will be, throughout your life, intimately mixed. Understand, learn, discover, meet, tell and testify. Above “my life photography!” »: marie-laure all, do not stop. Daring. she shy and discreet, which will never pour into the posture of the adventurer with a multi-pocket vest, to face, without ever hiding it, her fear of danger on conflict grounds. Stay as close as possible to humanity in the crash of wars. revolutions, and always decide, to testify to the terror to show, more than tears and blood, dignity and courage of those it photographs. »»

"my life photography!&quot. »: marie-laure

A commitment through the world

“The report is not a job, it is a choice of life, a way of being in the world and of understanding it. Photography is second nature. We have a crazy chance. an incredible privilege to do what we do, to live the story “my life photography!” »: marie-laure of an era in real time, to meet all these people actors and actresses of the great history worldwide, teach us so much and give meaning to our own lives, “said Marie-Laure de Decker in a discussion with Caroline Laurent Simon in September 2015.

For his first report, Marie-Laure the decker The Vietnam War will cover. With Catherine Leroy, Françoise Demulder and Christine Spengler, she is one of the few women photojournalists to go there. She continues by documenting the revolts of Soweto. South Africa, against the apartheid regime, then the rebellion in Chad, the fights of the Chilean opponents against Pinochet, the eyelet revolution in Portugal and the demonstrations against the death penalty in Ireland. She will also go to Yemen, China, or Paris, in Renault factories.

“In the chaos of wars. blood and tears, she has always claimed to explore the counter-champs, and to” want to remember beautiful “my life photography!” »: marie-laure things, not those I hated “,” explains Caroline Laurent Simon. “This bias. she who has always refuted the name” war photographer “, to be locked in a box as mythical and glorious as it is, it will be her paw. His identity as a photographer. And her personal commitment as a woman with independence pegged to the body. a free citizen, nourished, permanently inspired by social and political struggles, the personal trajectories of those which she will photograph for forty years ”.

“I experienced with my mother things that I will never relive with any human being, she gave birth to me and showed me the world. Mom was a party! She knew how to capture the grace of people in the midst of wars. social and political uprisings, she had the particularity of still seeing humanity in horror. She often said that “only courage differentiates people”. Not only the courage in the adversity of a conflict. but the courage to make decisions on a daily basis, the courage to be faithful to his commitments and his life choices. My mother is not an icon, especially not. But I am convinced. through this great and unique exhibition to MEP, his journey as a woman photographer, her choices and her personal and professional “my life photography!” »: marie-laure commitments, as is the message centered on the human that his photographs will be delivered to us, I hope, a powerful source of inspiration for new generations. »»

Pablo Saavedra de Decker, son of Marie-Laure de Decker.

This retrospective of Marie-Laure de Decker’s work. commitment is to be found at the European Maison de la Photography, on the 2nd and 3rd floor of the building, until September 28, 2025.