Robert Capa's iconic Spanish Civil War photo: A mystery that endures 90 years later

"Robert Capa (1913-1954) is the great legend of war photojournalism. He photographed the Spanish Civil War, World War II, the Sino-Japanese War, and the First Indochina War, where he lost his life. He always sought to fulfill his maxim: If your pictures aren't good enough, you're not close enough. He also forged his legend thanks to his personality: a people person, with an ironic sense of humor, a bon vivant, a drinker,"

"A complete overview of his two-decade career can now be seen at what its organizers bill as the largest Capa retrospective in Spain, at the Circulo de Bellas Artes in Madrid. The exhibition, titled Robert Capa. Icons, co-produced with the ticket sales platform Sold Out, brings together more than 250 pieces that will be exhibited until January 25, 2026, including photographs, some of them originals developed by Capa himself;"

"However, the focus of the exhibition, at least during its Spanish stop (it exhibited at Les Franciscaines Deauville last year), is on the various copies of the famous photograph, The Falling Soldier, from the Spanish Civil War. The exhibition's curator, Michel Lefebvre, who was a journalist for Le Monde where he wrote about contemporary history, discussed the various hypotheses surrounding the photo: Is it real or was it staged? Where was it taken? Who was that militiaman?"

Robert Capa (1913–1954) built a reputation as a leading war photojournalist, photographing the Spanish Civil War, World War II, the Sino-Japanese War, and the First Indochina War where he died. He pursued the maxim: If your pictures aren't good enough, you're not close enough. He cultivated a flamboyant personality, known as a people person, bon vivant, drinker, poker player, and romantic partner of Ingrid Bergman. An exhibition titled Robert Capa. Icons at the Circulo de Bellas Artes in Madrid presents more than 250 items, including original prints, newspapers, magazines, his typewriter, and a 1930 Leica. The display emphasizes multiple copies of The Falling Soldier and explores unresolved questions about its authenticity, location, and subject.

Read at english.elpais.com