Puerta del Sol, Madrid scene of the 2011 protests, after being bombed in 1936-37. Forms part of an excellent set
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nite_owl/3648322692/in/set-72157620116063488
Author Archives: Nick
In defence of dams and reservoirs
Remarkable photo of CNT workers and student volunteers off to defend the reservoirs in the sierra north of Madrid. The photo was taken on 28 July 1936, a week after the military rebellion was defeated in the city. Thanks to Glenn for sending me this.
Was Gerda Taro murdered?
Was Gerda Taro murdered by Stalinists? This article in the New Statesman by Robin Stummer, based on an interview with Willie Brandt, thinks so.
Gerda Taro was a fearless, pioneering chronicler of the Spanish Civil War. Robin Stummer uncovers evidence to suggest that her unflinching pictures led to her murder. Read
However….
In an interview with the Spanish daily El País, a nephew of a Republican soldier at the Battle of Brunete explained that she had died in an accident. According to the eye-witness account, she had been run over by a reversing tank and she died from her wounds in El Goloso English hospital a few hours later. Wikipedia
Books about Gerda Taro
Gerda Taro
(photography guide)
Out of the Shadows: A Life of Gerda Taro (biography, I really want to read this soon)
The trial of Andrés Nin
Time Magazine from 1937
In Barcelona last week opened a political trial so engrossing that even a major air raid, even, the shattering concussion of bombs which exploded a few hundred yards from the courtroom did not distract the judges, prisoners or spectators. In an atmosphere electric with hate and Spanish passion, Andrés Nin was at last put on trial in absentia. Andrés Nin’s small, blonde Russian wife or widow had a ringside spectator’s seat. Read more:
Gerda Taro photo collection
Gerda Taro video
An interesting talk here about the life of Gerda Taro, the pioneering and largely unknown female photojournalist whose work consisted almost exclusively of dramatic photographs from the Spanish Civil War.The talk is given by Irme Schaber, Taro’s biographer.
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Taro was companion and professional partner of photographer Robert Capa.
When the Spanish Civil War broke out (1936), Gerda Taro travelled to Barcelona, Spain, to cover the events with Capa. Taro acquired the nickname of la pequeña rubia (“the little blonde”). They covered the war together at northeastern Aragon and at the southern Cordoba. Always together under the common, bogus signature of Robert Capa, they were successful through many important publications (the Swiss Züricher Illustrierte, the French Vu). Their early war photos are distinguishable since Taro used a Rollei camera which rendered squared photographs while Capa produced rectangular Leica pictures. However, for some time in 1937 they produced similar 135 film pictures together under the label of Capa&Taro.
Subsequently, Taro attained some independence. She refused Capa’s marriage proposal. Also, she became publicly related to the circle of anti fascist European intellectuals (Ernest Hemingway, George Orwell) who crusaded particularly for the Spanish Republic. The Ce Soir, a leftist newspaper of France, signed her for publishing Taro’s works only. Then, she began to commercialize her production under the Photo Taro label. Regards, Life, Illustrated London News and Volks-Illustrierte were amongst those publications.[1][2]
Reporting the Valencia bombing alone, Gerda Taro attained the photographs which are her most celebrated. Also, in July 1937, Taro’s photographs were in demand by the international press when, alone, she was covering the Brunete region near Madrid for Ce Soir. Although the Nationalist propaganda claimed that the region was under its control, the Republican forces had in fact forced that faction out. Taro’s camera was the only testimony of the actual situation
Films about the Spanish Civil War
Cinergia has this excellent selection of information on films about the Spanish Civil War for teachers, scholars and cinephiles. Most of the films listed are feature films, but some documentaries are included. More here
In the image Andrés Pájares salutes out of fear in Ay Carmela by Carlos Saura
The site also has comprehensive notes in English and Spanish on using some of these films for teaching. Here
Helios Gómez: gypsy anarchist
I’ve added a short biography of Helios Gómez, perhaps the best known gypsy artivist in the Spanish Civil War, and author of many Republican propaganda posters.
Interview with Paul Preston
Audio interview with Paul Preston here on Canal Ser in Spanish about his book We Saw Spain Die about foreign journalists in the Spanish Civil War.
From review of We Saw Spain Die
In the minds of these correspondents, the quest for truth was not compromised but enhanced by commitment. This testament to their testimony could not have been supplied by a more erudite expert. Preston is a peerless historian of Spain, and the only one who writes as readably as a professional journalist.
Spanish Civil War documentary
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First part of award-winning 6-part Granada TV series on the Spanish Civil War. Here for rest of the videos of the series.