The Spanish Civil War in the Photographic Archive of the Piortiz Agency (1936-1939)

Abstract

The photographic agency Piortiz emerged as one of the most influential during the 1930s and up until the end of the Spanish Civil War, thanks to the widespread dissemination of its graphic material in numerous publications. The Piortiz signature was a regular presence in Spain's leading newspapers and illustrated magazines, and its reach extended beyond national borders, thanks to Félix Ortiz's work as a representative of the Keystone Agency. Recently, a significant portion of Piortiz's photographic archive has been recovered, comprising a total of 136 positive copies related to the Civil War, taken between 1936 and 1939 on various fronts. These images, along with others of unknown authorship and collected by the agency's founders for commercial purposes, have been subject to classification in this study. This analysis not only highlights the historical value of these photographs in relation to the conflict but also underscores Piortiz's pioneering role in the field of 20th-century graphic journalism.