This Thursday, October 2nd, the exhibition was presented Robert Capa. ICONS in an event that included the participation of Valerio Rocco, director ofel Círculo de Bellas ArtesRafael Giménez, managing partner of Sold Out; Michel Lefebvre, curator of the exhibition; and Andrea Holzherr, global director of exhibitions at Magnum Photos.

This is the largest retrospective ever held in Spain dedicated to the legendary photographer, featuring iconic and rarely seen images. It will be on display until January 25, 2026 at el Círculo de Bellas Artes de Madrid.

The exhibition brings together more than 250 original pieces, including period photographs developed at the time by Capa himself, historical publications and personal objects, mainly from the Golda Darty Collectionand from the archives of the prestigious agency Magnum Photos.

Robert Capa is considered the most celebrated war photographer in history, a pioneer of modern photojournalism and the author of such iconic images as Death of a militiaman.

Around the exhibition, which coincides with the 90th anniversary of the Spanish Civil War, three activities have been programmed (two conferences and a film screening).

Tickets are on sale in robertcapa.es.

A unique exhibition

From October 2, 2025 to January 25, 2026, it arrives at Círculo de Bellas Artes (CBA) Robert Capa. ICONS, the largest retrospective held in Spain to date on the legendary photographer.

The exhibition was presented to the media this Thursday, October 2nd, at an event that included the participation of Valerio Rocco, director del Círculo de Bellas Artes; Rafael Giménez, managing partner of Sold Out; Michel Lefebvre, curator of the exhibition and

journalist of Le Monde specialized in contemporary history; and andrea holzherr, global director of exhibitions at Magnum Photos.

Co-produced by Sold Out and the CBA, Robert Capa. ICONS It offers visitors a unique immersion into the photographer's universe.

Coinciding with the 90th anniversary of the Spanish Civil War -one of the wars Capa covered- the exhibition presents original period photographs (vintage prints)These photographs, revealed at the time by Capa himself, show how his images circulated in newspapers and magazines during the 1930s, 40s, and 50s. These "unique" photographs, unlike the retouched enlargements common in other exhibitions, retain the imprint of their time and powerfully convey the essence of photojournalism: urgent, direct images with all their testimonial weight.

This valuable collection is complemented by personal items—such as one of his famous Leica cameras, his typewriter, and his driver's license—that offer a glimpse into the daily life of a man who, in addition to being a war reporter, was passionate about life and always in search of new adventures.

“The original period photographs, even with their imperfections, are a much more faithful testimony to photojournalistic work. With them, we can understand how Capa saw and how he worked,” explains curator Michel Lefebvre.

The photographer who changed the way we look at war

Robert Capa (Budapest, 1913 – Thai-Binh, Indochina, 1954) is considered the most famous war photojournalist in historyIn just two decades of his career, he covered five decisive conflicts: the Spanish Civil War, the Sino-Japanese War, World War II, the first Arab-Israeli War, and the Indochina War.

His name became linked to images that form part of the collective memory of the 20th century: Death of a militiaman, symbol of the Spanish Civil War; the harrowing scenes of the Normandy landings, taken under enemy fire on Omaha Beach; or the close portraits of combatants, civilians and friends that he captured with a mixture of courage and humanity.

He achieved success from the beginning of the Spanish Civil War, in 1936, when he invented his pseudonym together with his friend and later life partner Gerta Porohylle; she became Gerda Taro and he, the Hungarian Endre Friedmann, became Robert Capa.

Capa was not merely a war correspondent. He photographed personalities such as Picasso, Hemingway, and Ingrid Bergman, explored color photography, shot fashion scenes, film sets, and travelogues throughout Europe. In 1947, he founded, along with Henri Cartier-

Bresson, David “Chim” Seymour, George Rodger and William Vandivert, the agency Magnum PhotosCapa revolutionized the way photographers worked, giving them control over their negatives, publications, and copyrights. He is, in fact, one of the forerunners of modern photojournalism.

A short life, an immortal work

Capa died in Indochina in 1954, after stepping on a landmine while covering the war. He was only 40 years old. At his death, he left thousands of negatives scattered around the world. His brother, Cornell LayerHe dedicated his entire life to recovering and preserving that legacy, to which figures such as the editor John G. Morris or the historian Richard Whelan also contributed.

Beyond the myth, this retrospective shows the most complete Capa: the fearless reporter who risked his life to tell the truth from the front, but also the lesser-known Capa, the vital man, lover of friendship, games, cinema and travel, who always sought to be at the heart of the action.

A unique experience to discover Capa

Over 250 original pieces, Robert Capa. ICONS It is the largest exhibition dedicated to the photographer in Spain. In addition to the original photographs as published in the press - including his most iconic snapshots - The retrospective displays historical publications—newspapers and magazines that disseminated her images to the world—and curious personal objects of all kinds. These materials, originating from the Golda Darty Collection and from the archives of Magnum PhotosThey allow you to delve into Capa's work and life with a unique authenticity.

Although Robert Capa is best known for his powerful black and white photographs, the exhibition also reveals his pioneering role in the color photographFrom the late 1930s he experimented with this technique and, after the Second World War, frequently incorporated it into his reports for magazines such as Life o HolidayHis color travel, fashion, and portrait scenes offer a different perspective: a vibrant and approachable Capa, who delighted in capturing the intensity of life beyond the battlefront. These images, rarely seen until now, are an essential part of the exhibition and complete the vision of a photographer who witnessed not only war, but also the modernity and joy of his time.

The exhibition invites us to understand not only What images did Capa capture?, but also How did those photographs travel from the front to the newspapers?, traveling thousands of kilometers by car, train or plane, at a key moment for the birth of modern photojournalism.

Charismatic and committed, Capa redefined what it meant to be a photojournalist, and his images —powerful, intimate and human— have not lost their ability to move the viewer.

Parallel activities

Around the exhibition el Círculo has organized a series of activities that will provide complementary points of view on the figure of Robert Capa, photojournalism and the use of the image.

On October 2nd, at 18pm (Ramón Gómez de la Serna Room), the inaugural conference of the exhibition. Organized in collaboration with the Festival Robert Capa was hereMichel will be participating in the talk. LeFebvre, curator of the exhibition; and Andrea Holzherr, Global Cultural Director of Magnum Photos.

“Memory under construction. Perspectives from the image” This is the title of the conference that will take place on November 12 (6:30 p.m.). Photographer Juan Millás; economist and visual arts expert Rocío Bueno; and Montaña Gama, photographer and emerging artist, will participate in a conversation analyzing three projects that position photography and documentation as essential tools for preserving, healing, and sharing our stories.

In addition, the film will be screened on November 5th (7:30 p.m.). The Lost Letters, by Amparo Climent, in the Cine Estudio del CírculoA discussion will follow, featuring the film's director, Jaime Ruiz Reig, president of the Platform for a Truth Commission, and Pilar Sancho. This event is organized in conjunction with the Manuel Fernández “Lito” Foundation, funded by the Madrid City Council, and supported by the LaJoven Company and the CUVPAC Research Group.

Image: American troops being ferried to larger ships in preparation for the allied invasion of Normandy, Weymouth, Dorset, Great Britain, June 4th, 1944 RobertCapa / International Center of Photography / Magnum Photos