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Label Text George Rodger established his career as a photojournalist in England, documenting the London Blitz and its aftermath. His work led to him joining the staff of the United States-based Time and Life magazines in 1939. As a war correspondent during WWII, he traveled throughout Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, and India, and covered the Japanese invasion of Burma, the North African and Italian campaigns, the D-Day assault, and the liberation of the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp. In 1947 he, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Robert Capa, and Chim (David Seymour) founded the renowned photography agency Magnum, and he became the group's correspondent for Africa. Rodger was known as “the quiet Englishman” because of his self-effacing demeanor. After WWII, Rodger focused on photographing the people, culture, and nature of Africa, often reporting for National Geographic and lauded for his empathetic imagery and ability to capture photos of events and ceremonies previously unrecorded by European photographers.
DimensionsSheet (/Image): 7 3/16 x 9 7/16 in. (18.3 x 24 cm)
Accession Number 2025.164
Classificationsphotograph
InscriptionsGR/M 3478 6500 (verso u,l graphite) Bananas awaiting shipment at the Port of DOUALA. CAMEROUNS. (verso c, graphite) FRA-4748 (verso u,r graphite)
MarksAF.4. (verso u,l stamp in black ink) COPYRIGHT GEORGE RODGER MAGNUM PHOTOS (verso c, stamp in blue ink) SERVICES AMERICANS USIS D'INFORMATION (verso c, stamp in black ink) MAGNUM PHOTOS [Barcode] PA-OR E00573053 (verso u,r black ink printed on white sticker)
ProvenanceJeff Perry; Des Moines Art Center [gift from the previous, 2025]
Bananas awaiting shipment at the Port of Douala, Camerouns
Photo Credit: Rich Sanders, Des Moines
Photo Credit: Rich Sanders, Des Moines