New evidence on mystery of famous 'faked' Capa photo
The stark black-and-white image of a Spanish Civil War soldier tumbling backwards in the moment of death is one of the best-known – and most controversial – war photographs ever taken.
Now, 72 years after the Falling Soldier was first published, an exhibition at the Barbican in London aims to have the last word on whether or not the picture was faked. It will show for the first time in the UK every image taken by the photographer Robert Capa the same day.
The Falling Soldier, officially known as Death of a Loyalist Militiaman, made 22-year-old Capa's reputation. He went on to co-found the Magnum picture agency and establish himself as one of the greatest war photographers.
For years arguments have raged as to whether he set up the picture or whether he had in fact captured a soldier meeting his violent death. In an age when news took months to travel, it was not unusual for photographers to re-create events.
An audit of all the negatives held by the International Center of Photography in New York has turned up previously unknown film taken by both Capa and his lover Gerda Taro the same day the Falling Soldier was photographed – believed to be around 5 September 1936. The new photographs include other images of the soldier, Federico Borrell Garcia, a 24-year-old textile worker. The new material shows, the curators believe, that Garcia was shot, but not in the heat of battle. They believe that a re-enactment of events at the front line near Cordoba attracted enemy interest.
Read entire article at Independent (UK) Click here to see the photo.
Now, 72 years after the Falling Soldier was first published, an exhibition at the Barbican in London aims to have the last word on whether or not the picture was faked. It will show for the first time in the UK every image taken by the photographer Robert Capa the same day.
The Falling Soldier, officially known as Death of a Loyalist Militiaman, made 22-year-old Capa's reputation. He went on to co-found the Magnum picture agency and establish himself as one of the greatest war photographers.
For years arguments have raged as to whether he set up the picture or whether he had in fact captured a soldier meeting his violent death. In an age when news took months to travel, it was not unusual for photographers to re-create events.
An audit of all the negatives held by the International Center of Photography in New York has turned up previously unknown film taken by both Capa and his lover Gerda Taro the same day the Falling Soldier was photographed – believed to be around 5 September 1936. The new photographs include other images of the soldier, Federico Borrell Garcia, a 24-year-old textile worker. The new material shows, the curators believe, that Garcia was shot, but not in the heat of battle. They believe that a re-enactment of events at the front line near Cordoba attracted enemy interest.