The Falling Soldier

The fascinating story of an iconic historical photo.

Robert Capa’s iconic 1936 photograph of The Falling Soldier. — Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

In 1826, the French inventor Nicéphore Niépce was able to produce the world’s first ever known fixed photograph. With Niépce’s achievement, photography was born. The craft has evolved significantly since its dawning days. Through this evolution, numerous photographers have taken a stab at perfecting the craft. Luckily for the historic record, many individuals have been able to excel in capturing and producing high-quality photos over the last nearly 200 years.

The History of The Falling Soldier

A photo of Robert Capa from 1954. — Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Exactly one century after the birth of photography, an iconic historical photo was captured by the Hungarian-American photojournalist Robert Capa. The work Capa produced in his lifetime has led many to regard him as one of the greatest war, combat, and adventure photographers of all time. His 1936 photo, known as The Falling Soldier, is regarded as one of the most iconic and influential photos in history.

Capa’s photo of The Falling Soldier was captured on September 5, 1936. The photo depicts the very moment of a Republican soldier’s death during the Battle of Cerro…