Sin título (Milicianos en un trinchera) (Untitled [Militiamen in a trench]) 1937 - 1938

Kati Horna’s square photograph captures militiamen in a trench. We don't know when it was made. The high contrast creates an intense atmosphere, with the subjects caught in a moment of serious anticipation. Horna’s composition and tone invites us to consider what it might have been like to be there, in the trench, waiting. You can imagine what it must have felt like for her, to make this image in the moment. Her dark and stark compositions in her wider body of work explore themes of war and its effects on ordinary people. There's something about the way Horna has framed these figures; it’s as if she’s capturing them unawares, revealing vulnerability amidst the harsh realities of conflict. Her photography has a sense of intimacy, akin to the work of other photographers like Gerda Taro, who were working at that time. This photograph remains a testament to Horna’s ability to convey the human condition with empathy and clarity.