Gerda Taro

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In the summer of 1937, a grand funeral procession in Paris honors photojournalist Gerda Taro, who was killed in the Spanish Civil War. Accompanied by Chopin’s funeral march, thousands gather to pay their respects, raising questions about why the French Communist Party would honor a foreigner with a prestigious burial. Taro, an émigrée from Hitler’s Germany, is recognized as a pioneering figure in photography, known for capturing dramatic images of the war and being the first female photographer to document battles. Her close proximity to the fighting set new standards for war photography, ultimately costing her life. Taro's death marked a significant moment, as she became the first casualty in war coverage, yet she remains overshadowed by her partner, Robert Capa. This disparity raises questions about the impact of gender and religion on her legacy. Ingrid Strobl's study on women resisting fascism suggests that Taro's identity as a woman, Communist, and Jew contributed to her erasure from history. Nearly twenty years after Irme Schaber's initial biography rekindled interest in Taro, the discovery of the "Mexican Suitcase," containing over 800 of her photos, has prompted new research. Schaber's revised biography offers fresh insights into Taro’s work and the circumstances of her death.