André Kertész - À Ma Fenêtre - 1981

A ma fenêtre (published in English as From My Window) is a deeply personal, poetic photobook by the legendary Hungarian-born photographer André Kertész, first released in 1981 by Editions Herscher.

In 1979, at the age of 84, Kertész was physically and emotionally devastated by the death of his beloved wife and lifelong companion, Elizabeth. Confined largely to his high-rise apartment overlooking Washington Square Park in New York City, he fell into deep grief. To help distract him, a friend gifted him a Polaroid SX-70 instant camera. This simple tool sparked a final, unexpected burst of creativity, leading to the creation of this book.

Unlike the masterly black-and-white street photography that defined his earlier career, A ma fenêtre consists entirely of vibrant color Polaroid prints.

The images are intimate still lifes arranged on his windowsill. Kertész placed small glass objects, miniature busts, and personal trinkets—many of which evoked memories of Elizabeth—on the sill.

Behind these tiny objects, the city of New York, the changing seasons, Washington Square Park, and the shifting sky serve as a blurred, atmospheric background.

The book is less about documenting the external world and more about an inward-looking gaze. The window frame acts as a stage where fleeting light, shadow, and passing time transform ordinary objects into profound meditations on loss, memory, and enduring love. It stands as a brilliant example of an aging master adapting to new technology to express the twilight of his life.