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.
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.
Published ReferencesHumanity and Inhumanity: The Photographic Journey of George Rodger. London: Phaidon, 1994, p. 261
Caiger-Smith, Martin and Osman, Colin. George Rodger Magnum Opus: Fifty Years of Photojournalism. London: Nishen, 1987, p. 83
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.
Published ReferencesHumanity and Inhumanity: The Photographic Journey of George Rodger. London: Phaidon, 1994, p. 261
Caiger-Smith, Martin and Osman, Colin. George Rodger Magnum Opus: Fifty Years of Photojournalism. London: Nishen, 1987, p. 83
DimensionsSheet (/Image): 9 1/4 x 6 3/16 in. (23.5 x 15.7 cm)
Accession Number 2025.167
Classificationsphotograph
InscriptionsGR/M 3757 10 000 (verso u,l graphite)
BETHLEHEM. 1951. (verso c, graphite)
MarksSTORY...96 (number written in black ink)
ROLL...135 (numbers written in black ink)
FRAME...17 (number written in black ink) (verso u,l stamp in black ink)
COPYRIGHT
GEORGE RODGER
MAGNUM PHOTOS (verso u,l stamp in black ink)
ProvenanceJeff Perry; Des Moines Art Center [gift from the previous, 2025]
