Robert Capa's Lost Negatives

Image © Tony Cenicola/NY Times-All Rights Reserved
The New York Times features an interesting article about the discovery of “the Mexican suitcase”, which held thousands of negatives that the legendary war photographer, Robert Capa took during the Spanish Civil War before he fled Europe for America in 1939.

The suitcase — actually three flimsy cardboard valises — contained thousands (around 3500) of negatives of pictures that Robert Capa, one of the pioneers of modern war photography, took during the Spanish Civil War before he fled Europe for America in 1939, leaving behind the contents of his Paris darkroom.

According to Brian Wallis, chief curator at the International Center of Photography, the Capa negatives appear to be remarkably good after being stored in what "essentially looks like confectionery boxes."

Here's a look at the New York Times' interactive feature showing the contents of the suitcase. I think that the suitcase has more mystique, more atmosphere and more flair than any of the current hard drives put together.

Posted in: Photojournalism