Heart of Spain: Robert Capa's Photographs of the Spanish Civil War

Heart of Spain: Robert Capa's Photographs of the Spanish Civil War

Robert Capa

The Spanish Civil War was a product of the clash between the opposing ideologies of the left-wing Republic and fascist Nationalists. In 1938, photographer Robert Capa captured scenes of the International Brigades, volunteer fighters for the Republic, in Montblanch. This photo feature throngs of men in military fatigues, raising their hands towards something off-camera, affirming their affiliation with the Republic. The unity of action portrayed in these photographs embody the belief that to protect their own convictions is to initiate the destruction of the opposition. Much like the photograph Falling Soldier, the photographs in this book expose the effects of war both on and off the battlefield. Capa sought to capture Spanish lives at the time and showcase his impressions to a global audience. This leads the viewer to imagine that prioritizing the coexistence of conflicting beliefs in a society can eventually lead to the collapse of the senseless hive-mind that perpetuates the cycle of war and violence.

TOMAS ALEJANDRO MANUEL EBRO MATIAS

New York: Aperture

1999