What Spain Sees in Capa’s Civil War Photo

Extra Credit Review
In his article, Geoff Pingree of Time Magazine examines the circumstances surrounding Spain’s reaction to noted photographer Robert Capa’s work that was on exhibition in Barcelona’s Museu d’Art de Catalunya.

There has been considerable debate regarding the reality of Capa's most noted 1936 Spanish Civil War image, The Fallen Soldier. Questions were flying as to whether the image had been staged; or whether it had been shot at the location that many regarded as the actual site of the conflict.

As Pingee further investigates the controversy, he suggests that perhaps none of these arguments are truly what the Spanish are protesting. Instead, he believes the Spanish resent the 22-year old American’s portrayal of such a revered point in Spain's history at all. Instead, perhaps the Spanish want to interpret, or even re-construct their own history.