A Polish-born photographer who captured iconic images of World War II, including the liberation of concentration camps, and was a pioneer of photojournalism.
David Seymour, known professionally as Chim, was a Polish photographer and photojournalist who left an indelible mark on the world of photography. He is celebrated for co-founding Magnum Photos, a prestigious photography cooperative, alongside Henri Cartier-Bresson, Robert Capa, and George Rodger.
Born Dawid Szymin on November 20, 1911, in Warsaw, Poland, Chim grew up in a family of publishers. His parents, Regina and Benjamin Szymin, instilled in him a love for art and literature. Chim's early years were marked by migration, first to Odessa in 1914, and then back to Warsaw in 1919. He pursued his passion for graphic arts in Leipzig and later in Paris, where he studied at the Sorbonne.
It was in Paris that Chim's fascination with photography began. He started working as a freelance journalist in 1933, and his first published photograph appeared in the magazine Regards in 1934. This marked the beginning of a remarkable career that would take him to the front lines of global conflicts and humanitarian crises.
Chim's lens captured some of the most pivotal moments of the 20th century. He covered the Spanish Civil War alongside Robert Capa, and his photographs from this period are a testament to his bravery and journalistic integrity. In 1939, he documented the Loyalist Spanish war refugees on the S.S. Sinaia to Mexico. During World War II, Chim served in the United States Army as a photo interpreter, using his skills to aid the war effort.
In 1947, Chim co-founded Magnum Photos, a cooperative that would revolutionize the world of photography. This collective of talented photographers set out to tell the stories that needed to be told, and Chim's vision was instrumental in shaping the agency's ethos. One of his most notable projects was "Children of War," a collaboration with UNICEF that exposed the plight of children in the aftermath of World War II. This powerful work cemented Chim's reputation as a master photographer and humanitarian.
Tragically, Chim's life was cut short when he was killed by Egyptian machinegun fire in 1956, during the Suez Crisis. His death was a devastating blow to the photography community, but his legacy lived on through Magnum Photos and his extraordinary body of work.
Chim's contributions to photography are immeasurable. He inspired generations of photographers, and his commitment to telling the stories that matter continues to influence photojournalism today. As a testament to his legacy, Magnum Photos remains a powerful voice in the world of photography, driven by the same values of integrity, compassion, and solidarity that Chim embodied throughout his life.
Born in 1913
A pioneering war photographer and journalist, capturing iconic images of conflict and human struggle, particularly during World War II and the Spanish Civil War.
Born in 1908
A pioneer of street photography, capturing life's fleeting moments in elegant, geometric compositions that defined the genre. Known for coining the term "the decisive moment."
Born in 1910
A pioneering female war photographer who captured the Spanish Civil War's brutal reality through her lens, leaving a lasting impact on the genre.
