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Unseen Film Reveals War Photographer Capa in Action
18 Feb
Summary
- Rare film shows war photographer Robert Capa in action during Paris liberation.
- Exhibition details Capa's crafted persona versus his true anti-fascist roots.
- Capa's iconic photos are contextualized, revealing his immersive style.
A new retrospective at the Museum of the Liberation of Paris features remarkable candid film of war photography icon Robert Capa. This footage, captured as he worked during the liberation of Paris on August 25-26, 1944, reveals the photographer in action, cameras around his neck, dodging bullets and immersing himself in the chaos. His iconic style, defined by immediacy and proximity, is vividly demonstrated.
The exhibition also highlights Capa's personal journey. Born Endre Friedmann in Budapest, he arrived in Paris in 1933 as a Jewish exile and vocal anti-fascist. He consciously crafted a persona to navigate the challenges of finding work. This fabricated image became the archetype of the intrepid war photographer.
Beyond the film, the exhibition showcases Capa's evolution through photos, magazines, and cameras. It traces his path from an anti-authoritarian émigré to a globally recognized war photographer, including his early work on Leon Trotsky and his coverage of the Spanish Civil War, where his girlfriend Gerda Taro tragically died. His famous 'The Falling Soldier' shot gained him international acclaim.
Capa co-founded the Magnum agency after World War II and continued to photograph celebrities. His life ended tragically in 1954 when he stepped on a landmine in Vietnam. The exhibition seeks to place his powerful images within their historical and personal context, showing Capa not just documenting war, but its actors and victims.
