Memory in frames. Foreign women photographers in Aragon in the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939)

Abstract

Modern photojournalism was born in the first decades of the 20th century with the triumph of illustrated magazines. Its success came after World War I, when the function of the press was modified, the modus operandi of journalists and the format of images changed. The Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) produced a photographic narrative to seduce the viewer, influence their perception, and mobilize their ideological position. This evolution was led by professionals with an ideological commitment and high political involvement. Among them are also women whose names have been omitted or displaced in the history of Photography. In this context, the objective of this work is to analyze the contribution of Gerda Taro, Kati Horna, Vera Elkan, Agnes Hodgson and other women photographers who worked in Aragon during the civil war, whose work was a turning point in the history of the medium. The study of their biographies and their professional careers has been carried out through the systematic review of bibliographic, newspaper and archival sources, considering complementary approaches, coming from History, Cultural Studies and Documentation. Among the results, the knowledge of their biographies and their professional careers stands out.