#art, Female Photographers Throughout History – Gerda Taro

Gerda Taro was a German photographer of Jewish origin born in Stuttgart, Germany in 1910. She was one of the first female battle/war photojournalists, a true pioneer in the field, especially for women photographers. Gerda covered the start of the Spanish Civil War and was killed while doing so. She died in El Escorial in 1937.

A LITTLE BACKGROUND INFORMATION

When the Nazis arrived in Germany in 1933, Gerda fled to Paris where, in 1934, she met Endre Friedman, (a Hungarian photographer) who would become her romantic and work partner. They started working as photographers barely making any money. That is until they devised a plan that turned out to be truly remarkable. They invented a character, named him Robert Capa, giving him the backstory that he was a renowned photographer who had come from the United States to work in Europe. This became their brand and it became very famous. Robert Capa photos sold for three times more that the ones from French photographers. The couple made a lot of cash and as well received countless commissions. Phenomenal idea! These guys were the bees knees!

The Spanish Civil War

As soon as they found out about the start of the Spanish Civil War, which exploded in 1936, Robert Capa relocated to Spain with the intent of covering the war. The pair witnessed several conflicts and began selling photos and reports to French magazines like Vu and Regards. Many photographs later appeared in Life Magazine and Picture Post magazines.

They continued using the Robert Capa brand until they drifted apart. Gerda signed her final photographs as «Photo Taro». Friedman continued using the brand name. Robert Capa went on to become the most famous war photojournalist, covering the rest of the Spanish Civil War, World War II, and the post-war. Capa travelled throughout the Soviet Union, Poland and Japan. He died covering the Indochina War in 1954. Friedman/Robert Capa was 40 years old when he inadvertently stepped on a land mine as he was trying to film the advance of a French unit on a very dangerous road.

Gerda too died covering a war, but tragically, her death was due to an accident. She had been rallying troops during the Battle of Brunete when the International Brigade, under Karol Wacław Świerczewski, better known as General Walter, were forced to retreat that Sunday the 25th of July. Suddenly their convoy spotted an airplane flying very low and coming towards them. Suspecting that they were going to be machine-gunned, all took cover wherever available. Taro threw herself behind a small elevation on the road, unfortunately, at the same time that a Republican tank was reversing on to the road running over her. She was severely injured and died a few hours later at the British hospital El Goloso in El Escorial on July 26, 1937, a few days before turning 27.

Gerda Taro’s mortal remains were interred in the 97th division of the Père-Lachaise cemetery in París. The French communist party gave her all the honours of a Republican heroine. There are streets in Madrid and Paris named in her honour. Alfredo Giacometti was commissioned to build a monument for her grave.

Here are some of her photographs of the war. The most famous photograph of the Spanish Civil War, attributed to Robert Capa was «Loyalist Militiaman at the Moment of Death, Cerro Muriano, September 5, 1936/Muerte de un miliciano».