Seymour, David. David Seymour - "Chim"

Paragraphic Books, Division of Grossman Publishers, 1966. Edited by Anna Farova. Introduction with biography by Judith Friedberg.  Cornell Capa and Sam Holmes, Associate Editors.  About 87 pages including 64 with illustrations. Includes portraits of some well known people, including Pablo Picasso, André Malraux, Irene and Frederic Joliot-Curie, Romain Roland, Bernard Berenson, Bertrand Russell, Arturo Toscanini, and Peggy Guggenheim. Most of the others are reportage taken in France, Italy, Spain, and Greece.  Wraps, wear at top of spine, creases on cover. Covers curling. Very good minus.  Excellent compilation of black and white photos by Chim, one of the founders of Magnum. Summary:

David Seymour – “Chim” (published by Paragraphic Books in 1966) is a photographic monograph devoted to the work of David Seymour (1911–1956), the Polish‑born photojournalist better known by his nickname Chim. Although it does not include an extensive narrative biography, the book assembles over sixty black‑and‑white photographs that represent the breadth and depth of Seymour’s vision and influence as one of the most important documentary photographers of the mid‑20th century.

Subject and Scope

• The volume showcases Seymour’s photojournalistic images, illustrating his humanist approach to subjects ranging from war and its aftermath to everyday life and portraiture. While specific portfolios likely vary by print, these photographs reflect the empathetic eye that made Chim renowned for his portrayal of individuals—especially children—affected by conflict and social upheaval.

• Many of these images derive from his career covering major events such as the Spanish Civil War, post‑World War II Europe, and other significant historical moments, where his work combined documentary urgency with personal engagement with his subjects.

Contributors and Presentation

• The book includes an introduction by Judith Friedberg and was edited by Anna Farova, with contributions such as a remembrance by fellow photographer Henri Cartier‑Bresson. These contextual writings help situate Seymour’s photos within both his life and the broader cinematic and journalistic traditions of the period.

• Designed as a compact softcover monograph, the publication emphasizes the photographs themselves, allowing readers to engage directly with Chim’s visual record rather than with an extensive textual biography.

Significance

By focusing on his imagery and including commentary from distinguished contemporaries, David Seymour – “Chim”offers a visual tribute to an influential photographer whose work helped define modern photojournalism—particularly its human rights‑oriented and empathetic strains—and whose legacy continues to shape how photographers document society and conflict.