Image and Sound

The IISH Image and Sound department houses a large collection of original posters from Spain and Italy, especially from the 1930s. The propaganda posters issued by various government institutions, political parties, and trade unions during the Civil War are especially striking. In the Italian poster collection, the PCI, PSI, and Democrazia Proletaria are well documented.

The photographs of the Image and Sound Department originate from archives and collections. Together with the archives of CNT and FAI, about 2000 photos from the Civil War period made by Spanish photographers were deposited at the IISH. The photos were made on behalf of Solidaridad Obrera and other newspapers associated with this organization. They chronicle the tragedy and the romanticism of the struggle: the ruins, the defenseless, and the dead, the brave civilians at the barricades and the handsome lightly armed members of the militias. Apart from this, there are many photographs about life behind the front. Photo albums of international brigadists, including the Czech volunteer Jaroslav Hošek (call number BG T2/406) and the Dutch nurse Noor Diamant (call number BG T2/629), are also kept in the Image and Sound Department. The photo collection of José Martínez Guerricabeitia also pertains to the Spanish Civil War.

The Sound section houses tapes of interviews with interbrigadists and various records issued in 1969 by the Italian daily Lotta Continua. Badges and insignia, commemoration tiles, and other historical objects have been given the place they deserve in the Image and Sound department. All these items are to be found via the library catalogue as well as the Search platform.

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