When I write, I make my memories tangible, and in this way I can get rid of them.
Jorge SemprunRead
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.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the power of photography as a historical witness, capturing reality that may contradict personal narratives.
In this quote, Josef Koudelka reflects on the undeniable truth that photographs can provide in recounting historical events, particularly in the context of war and liberation. He shares his experience of confronting ex-soldiers with evidence of violence during their actions, illustrating how visual documentation can counter narratives that seek to deny or erase the harsh realities of the past. Koudelka's work serves as a reminder of the importance of eyewitness accounts and the subjective nature of memory in understanding history.
Themes
PhotographyHistoryTruthMemoryWar
In practice
Example use cases
During a photography exhibit, one could use this quote to illustrate the significance of visual storytelling.
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