Explore the work of Robert Capa, a major figure in photojournalism, through a major exhibition atthe Musée de la Libération de Paris from February 18 to December 20, 2026. This unique exhibition traces the career of the famous war photographer by following his missions on the main fronts of the 20th century, fromSpain to Normandy toIndochina.
The exhibition reveals how his iconic images are created, from their capture in the field to their selection and distribution in the international press, offering a comprehensive understanding of how his legend was made.
Robert Capa is not just a witness: he is an actor in the image, a committed man who lived through his era with a deeply humanistic vision. A Hungarian immigrant of Jewish origin, he established himself as one of the great names in photojournalism by facing danger to capture the intensity of combat.The exhibition focuses as much on recounting his career as it does on revealing the mechanisms that built his legend: framing choices, image selection, editorial editing, media distribution... All elements that shape our perception of conflicts.
Thanks to a special partnership with Magnum Photos, the agency that Capa co-founded, the exhibition provides access to a remarkable collection of original documents: contact sheets, rare prints, editorial archives, and personal notes. These materials help us understand how a photograph becomes a striking image, how a story is constructed, and how a photographer manages to condense, as Robert Capa himself said, "the whole event" into a single shot.
The exhibition is aimed at enthusiasts of photography, contemporary history, journalism and all those interested in the mechanisms of visual memory. Whether you're curious to understand how conflicts have been portrayed in the press, or fascinated by the figure of the reporter, this tour is an invitation to take a critical look at the image as witness to reality. It's also a great experience for those who like to wander through museums with family or friends, in an atmosphere that's both studious and emotionally charged.
On the other hand, if you're looking for a light-hearted or playful outing, this event may not meet your expectations: the subject matter is dense, the images are sometimes harsh, and the exhibition calls for reflection as much as contemplation. It's a place of memory, requiring a certain degree of concentration and sensitivity.
The wealth of documentation presented here is exceptional: it shows how the visual narrative of a conflict is constructed, how an individual's perspective can influence our reading of history, and how Robert Capa's photographs—from Spain to Normandy, via insurgent Paris —fit into a larger whole, illuminated by testimonies and press archives. The image then becomes a language, a memory, sometimes even an act of resistance.
The exhibition is being held at the Musée de la Libération de Paris – Musée du Général Leclerc – Musée Jean Moulin, Place Denfert-Rochereau, in the 14th arrondissement. The venue is easily accessible by public transport and adapted for people with disabilities. Guided tours are available to explore certain aspects of the exhibition in greater depth. Do you like true stories, photos that tell the story of the world, and fragments of history captured on film? Then this exhibition deserves a place in your diary!
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Dates and Opening Time
From February 18, 2026 to December 20, 2026
Location
museum of the Liberation of Paris
4 Avenue du Colonel Henri Rol-Tanguy
75014 Paris 14
Access
RER B, metro line 4 or 6 "Denfert-Rochereau" station
Official website
www.museeliberation-leclerc-moulin.paris.fr
More information
Open Tuesday to Sunday, 10 am to 6 pm.
