Gerda Taro

Born Gerta Pohorylle in Stuttgart, Germany, to Polish-Jewish immigrant parents, Gerda Taro was a product of a family that valued education but faced increasing antisemitism. She was arrested in 1933 for anti-Nazi activities, prompting her family to flee to Palestine while she eventually made her way to Paris.

It was in Paris that she met Endre Friedmann, another Jewish refugee who would later become the famous Robert Capa. Together, they invented the "Robert Capa" persona, initially attributing their joint work to this fictional American photographer. As Taro developed her own distinctive style, she began publishing under her chosen name, breaking free from Capa's shadow.

Taro's career was tragically cut short during the Spanish Civil War. Her images from the front lines were unflinching and powerful, capturing the brutal realities of conflict. She died in 1937, making her the first woman photojournalist to be killed while covering a war, leaving behind a legacy of bravery and groundbreaking photojournalism.