Robert Capa. Icons
The Círculo de Bellas Artes, in collaboration with Sold Out, presents the largest retrospective ever held in Spain dedicated to Robert Capa, one of the most influential photographers of the 20th century. The exhibition brings together more than 250 pieces —vintage prints, publications, and personal objects— from the Golda Darty Collection and the archives of Magnum Photos.
The Eye of a Reporter
Robert Capa (Budapest, 1913 – Indochina, 1954) became the great benchmark of modern photojournalism. His career, though brief, took him to cover five decisive conflicts: the Spanish Civil War, the Second Sino-Japanese War, World War II, the First Arab-Israeli War, and the Indochina War. In each of them he sought to be at the heart of the action, convinced that “if your pictures aren’t good enough, you’re not close enough.”
Some of his images have become part of our collective memory: the iconic Death of a Militiaman, a symbol of the Spanish Civil War; the photographs taken under enemy fire on Omaha Beach during the D-Day landings; or his intimate portraits of soldiers and civilians that reveal the most human side of conflict.
Original Photographs and Personal Belongings
The exhibition gathers an exceptional selection of vintage prints developed at the time by Capa himself, allowing us to see how they originally circulated in newspapers and magazines. These photographs retain the immediacy of the moment, with all the urgency and marks of their time, far from later, more retouched reproductions.
Alongside them, personal objects are displayed —such as one of his Leica cameras, his typewriter, or travel documents— offering a glimpse into the photographer’s daily life. These elements remind us that Capa was not only a reporter but also a vital and curious man, passionate about cinema, travel, and friendship.
Beyond War
Although his name is inseparable from war photography, Capa also portrayed cultural icons such as Picasso, Hemingway, and Ingrid Bergman, and explored other genres including fashion, cinema, and travel photography. From the late 1930s he experimented with color, and after World War II increasingly incorporated it into his reports for international magazines.
The color scenes featured in the exhibition reveal a different side of Capa: a lesser-known photographer capturing the vitality of everyday life, landscapes, and portraits with surprising freshness.
The Legacy of a Legend
Capa died in 1954, at the age of 40, after stepping on a landmine while covering the Indochina War. His short life and commitment to being always “in the heart of the action” made him a legend. After his death, his brother Cornell Capa devoted himself to preserving and promoting his legacy, a task also carried on by Magnum Photos —founded by Robert together with Henri Cartier-Bresson, David “Chim” Seymour, and others— as well as by numerous researchers.
Today, his images continue to strike with the same force as decades ago. They do not only show what happened, but also how he chose to look at it: with closeness, humanity, and a clear commitment to those who suffered the violence of war.
An Opportunity to Rediscover Him
This retrospective offers a complete journey through Capa’s career, from his earliest works to his final reports, showcasing both his most famous icons and lesser-known pieces. Visitors will discover not only the fearless reporter who risked his life on the front lines, but also the man who delighted in capturing friendship, travel, and culture.
Ultimately, the exhibition invites us to engage with Robert Capa in all his breadth: the photographer who helped define the language of modern photojournalism, and whose work, more than half a century later, continues to shed light on the dilemmas of our present.