Opening for International Women’s Day, this new exhibition at the recently reopened musée de la Libération de Paris – musée du général Leclerc – musée Jean Moulin (not far from our hotels) showcases the work of eight female war photographer who have covered 75 years of international conflicts between 1936 and 2011.

A serious and possibly harrowing subject in serious and harrowing times.

Now is the time to discover the work and different artistic approach of Carolyn Cole (née en 1961), Françoise Demulder (1947-2008), Catherine Leroy (1944-2006), Susan Meiselas (née en 1948), Lee Miller (1907-1977), Anja Niedringhaus (1965-2014), Christine Spengler (née en 1945) and Gerda Taro (1910-1937).

While being a war photographer is generally thought to be a very male-dominated area, a large number of women have also followed this career, documenting conflicts in ways that men were unable to, notably because of women’s access to families.

These photos pose questions about the specificity of the female approach to wars and certain stereotypes , especially the place of women in combat.

The exhibition also examines the questions that every war photographer asks themselves – what can be shown? What should not be shown? How? Why?

From wars dating between 1936 and 2011, the photos show a diverse range of styles and approaches, placing World War II – then thought to be the last major war of modern times – in a wider context.

Other questions are also asked – can a war photo be reframed for publication? Have the images of war we see regularly made us numb to the reality of the suffering?

With over 80 photos and a dozen original newspapers and magazines on show, hopefully you will find some answers to these important and difficult questions.

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The exhibition Women War Photographers (Femmes photographes de guerre) is at the Museum of the Liberation of Paris (here) from 8th March – 31st December 2022

Open every day except Mondays from 10am-6pm

Entrance free

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Ce matin vernissage presse de l’exposition #FemmesPhotographesDeGuerre avant l’ouverture au public demain mardi 8 mars. pic.twitter.com/beukI3hFh7

— Musée de la Libération de Paris-Leclerc-Moulin (@museeML) March 7, 2022