Regarding the recent events of Russia invading Ukraine, it came to my mind the work of Josef Koudelka documenting the occupation of Czechoslovakia in 1968.
Koudelka is an outstanding photographer with a rich and diverse work. However, today it is important to go back and revisit his work during that dramatic moment in Europe.
Josef Koudelka
The Photographer
Josef Koudelka was born in Czechoslovakia in 1938. He has a degree as an engineer; however, photography was his passion since he was a child.
To understand his obsession for this craft, I would like to remark that he collected wild strawberries from the forest and sold them to a local ice-cream shop with the goal of buying his first camera at the age of 10 years old. He remembers it was the cheapest camera and he was disappointed with its performance.
In his mature age, he photographed Romany people and theatre stage productions among other works. In 1967 he quitted as an aeronautical engineer to be a full-time photographer.
Crushing the Prague Spring
In August 1968 he returned from photographing Romany people, and two days after that, the soviets invaded Czechoslovakia and he was there to register the resistance against the occupation.
The image of Koudelka’s watch is one of the most iconic pictures that was ever captured.
Was it taken to register the time of the events in a practical way or from the beginning he was thinking in the symbolism of the image? This photo represents the anticipation of the fall of Prague under the soviet regime. The hope of having some level of freedom would soon be over. How a photo, that can be considered so simple, it is at the same time so powerful!
“My work has no theme. I don’t care if my photographs get published, and I have no interest in “the news.” But the invasion of Prague was not news, it was my life.”
Some of Koudelka’s negatives were smuggled out of Prague and sent to Magnum Photo agency. Finally, they were published by Sunday Times Magazine in London at the time of the invasion itself. In order to avoid retaliation against Koudelka or his family the author of the images was name as “P.P.” for “Prague Photographer”. He was awarded the Overseas Press Club’s Robert Capa Gold Medal for his work.
In 1970 Koudelka travelled to the UK and applied for political asylum. He was living there until the 80’s.
The occupation of the Soviets in Czechoslovakia last 20 years.
“[My] photographs are proof of what happened. When I go to Russia, sometimes I meet ex-soldiers… They say: “We came to liberate you….” I say: “Listen, I think it was quite different. I saw people being killed.” They say: No. We never… no shooting. No. No.” So I can show them my Prague 1968 photographs and say: “Listen, these are my pictures. I was there.” And they have to believe me.”
The book
If you would like to know more about Koudelka and his work during this conflict, you can buy the book Invention 68 Prague. The cover of the book is below.
Bye for now.