Robert Doisneau liked to refer to himself as a "pecheur d'images," a fisher of images.  He immersed himself in his surroundings where he waited to catch the right shot.  As one of the most famous French photographers of his day, Doisneau relied on his intuition rather than rational thinking.  He took pictures based on his instinct at the moment they occurred.  Born in Gentilly, France on April 14, 1912 Robert Doisneau spent most of his life in the suburbs of Paris.  He was schooled at the Ecole Estienne where he received very limited art training.  In 1929 Doisneau's interest in photography was sparked.  He began teaching himself different photographical techniques and in 1934 he was considered a professional.

In 1950 he included one of his photographs, The Kiss by the Hotel de Ville, in Life magazine.  The photograph of a man and woman kissing on a populated street in Paris has become his most famous works.  Not only does it represent love and romance, it also defines Paris as the city of love.  The photograph along with the article has become a symbol for those around the world.  Today it can be found on postcards, note cards, and posters reminding people of the romance that pervades the image of Paris.