I’m currently studying the photos of Robert Capa, and this is what amazes me about his work: he documented history, with beautiful artistry and composition.
I see Robert Capa as an artist who had a thirst for adventure. He used the camera as his art tool, and did a huge service to humanity by co-founding Magnum Photos, by documenting the horrors and ills of war, while making the photos beautiful through his artful compositions, and the intimacy and soul he shared with his subjects.
Some of my favorite photos by Robert Capa:
Vietnam:
INDOCHINA. May 25, 1954. Vietnamese troops advancing between Namdinh and Thaibinh. This is one of the last pictures taken by Robert Capa with his Nikon camera before he stepped on a landmine and died at 14.55.
INDOCHINA. First Indo-Chinese War (1946-1954). Along the road from Namdinh to Thaibinh. May 25th, 1954. Vietnamese Soldiers advancing in a rice field. After World War II France reinstalled its colonial government in Indochina (after the Japanese invasion during the war). In 1946 a Vietnamese independence movement, led by communist Ho Chi Minh, started to fight against French troops to gain control of northern Vietnam. On May 7th, 1954, the French were defeated at Dien Bien Phu. The armistice, signed in Geneva, divided Vietnam into a “Democratic Republic” in the North, under communst rule, and the “State of Vietnam” in the South, under French rule.
INDOCHINA. First Indo-Chinese War. Don Qui Thon. Vietminh prisoners replace bridges destroyed by a Vietminh attack. May, 1954.
INDOCHINA. First Indo-Chinese War (1946-1954). On the road from Namdinh to Thaibinh. May 25th, 1954. A French military convoy. After World War II France reinstalled its colonial government in Indochina (after the Japanese invasion during the war). In 1946 a Vietnamese independence movement, led by communist Ho Chi Minh, started to fight against French troops to gain control of northern Vietnam. On May 7th, 1954, the French were defeated at Dien Bien Phu. The armistice, signed in Geneva, divided Vietnam into a “Democratic Republic” in the North, under communst rule, and the “State of Vietnam” in the South, under French rule.
Robert Capa 937
INDOCHINA. First Indo-Chinese War (1946-1954). Namdinh. May 21st, 1954. Military cemetery. French and Vietnamese, killed during the battle, lie next to eachother. After World War II France reinstalled its colonial government in Indochina (after the Japanese invasion during the war). In 1946 a Vietnamese independence movement, led by communist Ho Chi Minh, started to fight against French troops to gain control of northern Vietnam. On May 7th, 1954, the French were defeated at Dien Bien Phu. The armistice, signed in Geneva, divided Vietnam into a “Democratic Republic” in the North, under communst rule, and the “State of Vietnam” in the South, under French rule.
INDOCHINA. First Indo-Chinese War. Nam Dinh. A Vietnamese guard attached to the French Allied Command, at his post on a military base. May, 1954. WIP-00052
INDOCHINA. May, 1954. West of Namdinh.
Robert Capa 937
Robert Capa 937
ICP 884 On the road from Namdinh to Thaibinh. May 25th, 1954. French soldiers.
icp 878 Near Namdinh, May 1954.
INDOCHINA (VIETNAM). May, 1954. On the road from Namdinh to Thaibinh.
Robert Capa 937; 885.PST.IND.022; 1954
Spanish Civil War:
SPAIN. Madrid. Winter 1936-1937. After an Italo-German air raid. The Nationalist offensive on Madrid, which lasted from November 1936 to February 1937, was one of the fiercest of the Civil War. During this period Italy and Germany started helping the Nationalist forces, and the USSR the Popular Front government.
SPAIN. Les Masies. October 25th, 1938. Farewell ceremony for the International Brigades.
SPAIN. Montblanch, near Barcelona. October 25th, 1938. Bidding farewell to the International Brigades, which were dismissed by the Republican government, as a consequence of Stalin’s friendship with Germany.
SPAIN. Near Barcelona. October 29th, 1938. Bidding farewell to the International Brigades, which were dismissed by the Republican government, as a consequence of Stalin’s friendship with Germany.
SPAIN. Spanish Civil War (1936-9) ICP 254. Mora de Ebro, the Aragon front. November 5th, 1938. The Fascist rebels bombed the bridge over the Ebro River and opened the dams in the north hoping to prevent the Republicans from crossing the river.
SPAIN. November 7th, 1938. Near Fraga, the Aragon front. Loyalist troops during an offensive on the Rio Segre.
SPAIN. Madrid. November-December, 1936. During the Italo-German air raids, many people took shelter in the subway stations. The Nationalist offensive on Madrid, which lasted from November 1936 to February 1937, was one of the fiercest of the Civil War. During this period Italy and Germany started helping the Nationalist forces, and the USSR the Popular Front government. The civilians were severely affected by the bombings.
SPAIN. Barcelona. Each banner spells out the name of fallen Brigadiers and their country of birth. The International Brigades are made to leave Spain by the Jallander Commission, which ordered the departure of all foreign troops fighting alongside the Republicans and Franquists. Nevertheless the Germans and Italians continue to send over men and war supplies to Franco. The capital of Catalonia pays tribute to the International Brigades. During the ceremony, Dolorès IBARRURI, leader of the Spanish Communist Party, addresses the survivors of the International Brigades with her well-known “You are history! You are legend! [….] The blood spilt on our soil will not be sterile, it will be bear its fruit. October 28th, 1938.
SPAIN. Madrid. November-December 1936. After the Italo-German air raids. The Nationalist offensive on Madrid, which lasted from November 1936 to February 1937, was one of the fiercest of the Civil War. During this period Italy and Germany started helping the Nationalist forces, and the USSR the Popular Front government. The civilians were severely affected by the bombings.
SPAIN. Barcelona. January 1939. At a refugee transit center during the evacuation of the city, which was being heavily bombed by fascist planes, as General Franco’s fascist troops rapidly approached.
SPAIN. Madrid. February 1937. Republican fortifications around the University Hospital, one of the main bastions of the Nationalists. The offensive on Madrid, which lasted between November 1936 and February 1937, was one of the fiercest of the Civil War. It ended with a Republican victory.
SPAIN. Barcelona. January 1939. Little girl resting during the evacuation of the city.
SPAIN. Bilbao. May 1937. Basque region. Italo-German air raids were so frequent that many people spent all day near the shelters.
SPAIN. Near Fraga, Aragon front. November 7th, 1938. A political commissar (left) and a military commander addressing troops before the Loyalist offensive along the Rio Segre.
SPAIN. Spanish Civil War (1936-9) ICP 257 Near Fraga. The Aragon front. November 7th, 1938. A field headquarter during the Loyalist offensive along the Rio Segre.
SPAIN. Spanish Civil War (1936-9) ICP 258 Near Fraga. The Aragon front. November 7th, 1938. A field headquarter during the Loyalist offensive along the Rio Segre. The Spanish Civil War broke out in 1936, when part of the Spanish army rebelled against the Second Republic, a democratic government elected in 1931. It gained international dimensions when Fascist Germany and Italy began supporting the military uprising, led by General Franco, with weapons and soldiers. The USSR helped the Republic, and a significant contingent of volunteers joined the International Brigades and fought for the Republic. The conflict became the symbol of a larger conflict between Fascists and Communists. The war ended in 1939 with Franco’s victory over the Republicans.
SPAIN. Madrid. November-December, 1936. During the Italo-German air raids, many people took shelter in the subway stations. The Nationalist offensive on Madrid, which lasted from November 1936 to February 1937, was one of the fiercest of the Civil War. During this period Italy and Germany started helping the Nationalist forces, and the USSR the Popular Front government. The civilians were severely affected by the bombings.
SPAIN. December 1937-January 1938. Aragon front. Battle of Teruel. Republican soldiers trying to conquer this strategically located hilltop town on one of the major roads to Barcelona.
SPAIN. Spanish Civil War (1936-9) icp 283 Barcelona. January 1939. Entertainment for children who were being evacuated from the city, which was being bombed by fascist planes, as General Franco’s fascist troops rapidly approached.
SPAIN. Bilbao. May 1937. Basque region. Running for shelter during the air raids.
SPAIN. Barcelona. January 1939. Watching a Fasist air raid over the city.
SPAIN. Bilbao. May 1937. Crowds running for shelter as the air-raid alarm sounds.
SPAIN. Barcelona. January 1939. Running for shelter during an air raid. The city was being heavily bombed by fascist planes, as General Franco’s troops rapidly approached.
SPAIN. Bilbao. May 1937. Basque region.
SPAIN. Bilbao. May 1937. Basque region. Extinguishing a fire in a gas deposit hit by an Italo-German air raid.
SPAIN. Spanish Civil War (1936/9) ICP 237. Aragon front. Battle of Teruel. January 3rd, 1938. Republican soldiers inside the Governor’s Palace, the last bastion of the Fascist resistance. Earlier that day the Republicans had detonated mines powerful enough to blow away an entire wall. Aragon. Teruel. Décembre 1937. Offensive républicaine pour reprendre la ville aux franquistes. La prise de l’aqueduc “Los Arcos”. The Spanish Civil War broke out in 1936, when part of the Spanish army rebelled against the Second Republic, a democratic government elected in 1931. It gained international dimensions when Fascist Germany and Italy began supporting the military uprising, led by General Franco, with weapons and soldiers. The USSR helped the Republic, and a significant contingent of volunteers joined the International Brigades and fought for the Republic. The conflict became the symbol of a larger conflict between Fascists and Communists. The war ended in 1939 with Franco’s victory over the Republicans.
SPAIN. December 1937-January 1938. Aragon front. Battle of Teruel. Loyalist soldiers carrying away the wounded during the battle for this strategically located hilltop town on one of the major routes to Barcelona.
SPAIN. Valencia. US writer and journalist Ernest HEMINGWAY getting ready to go out to cover the battle of Teruel. December 1937.
SPAIN. Les Masies. October 25th, 1938. Farewell ceremony for the International Brigades.
SPAIN. Barcelona. January 13, 1939. Man with two women and a baby preparing for mobilization as General Franco’s troops approached the city.
SPAIN. Barcelona. January 1939. Preparing to evacuate the city. Barcelona was being heavily bombed by fascist planes, as General Franco’s troops rapidly approached the city.
SPAIN. January 15th, 1939. On the road from Tarragona to Barcelona. People from Tarragona seeking refuge in Barcelona, before the evacuation of the city. Many of them were killed or lost their belongings during fascist air raids.
SPAIN. December 1937-January 1938. Aragon front. Battle of Teruel. Loyalist soldiers trying to defend this strategically located hilltop town on one of the major routes to Barcelona.
FRANCE. March 1939. Between Argeles-sur-Mer and Le Bercares. Exiled Republican soldiers and civilians, who crossed the border after Franco’s victory, being transferred from one refuge camp to another. A French Gendarme heads the column of refugees. France had set up eight camps along the border in the Pyrénées Orientales region.
SPAIN. Aragon front. Battle of Teruel. Republican soldiers trying to conquer this strategically located hilltop town on one of the major routes to Barcelona. December 1937-January 1938.
To find more inspiration, I encourage you to study the early Magnum photographers, whose heritage was photojournalism, and the photo essay.
My favorite photographers to study:
- David Chim Seymour
- Philip Jones Griffiths
- Henri Cartier-Bresson
- Cornell Capa
Learn more about ROBERT CAPA >