Fighting Fascism: Visual Culture of the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939)
Exhibition
Augusto Fernández Sastre: “What are you doing to prevent this? Help those without shelter.” Published as a poster and postcard by Ministerio de Propaganda, 1937
The exhibition uses rare archival material to explore the history of the war and the stories of the U.S. volunteers who served with the Spanish Republic.
New York University’s Kimmel Windows Gallery examines the use of posters, postcards, advertisements, and other visual materials to influence public opinion and drum up support for the Spanish Civil War. On view in 13 outdoor vitrines along Laguardia Place and West 3rd Street in Greenwich Village, the exhibition also spotlights the stories of some of the 2,800 U.S. volunteers, including 22 NYU students, who served.
The Abraham Lincoln Brigade Archives (ALBA), part of NYU’s renowned collection of the radical political left, is the source of the display. Created in 1975 by veterans of the brigade, the archives preserve the stories of the U.S. volunteers who served as soldiers and humanitarian aid workers in a brigade named in honor of President Abraham Lincoln.
The exhibition includes personal materials, such as drawings, postcards and photographs, that detail the experiences of those on the front lines. It also explores civilian life, the effects of the war on children, and the role of women in the fight.