Kyoichi Sawada - Carry Wounded Comrade

lot/kyoichi sawada carry wounded comrade HA5eePm 633002955 / For sale

lot/kyoichi sawada carry wounded comrade HA5eePm 633002955

For salePrice history

lot/kyoichi sawada carry wounded comrade HA5eePm 633002955

For salePrice history

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Kyoichi Sawada - Carry Wounded Comrade

Kyoichi Sawada (UPI) – "Carry Wounded Comrade" Vietnam War, Hoi Ninh (1967) Rare vintage UPI radiophoto press photo with original archival caption and stamps. An exceptionally powerful and historically important piece of photojournalism from the Vietnam War. This original silver gelatin print (radiophoto) was captured on 2 April 1967 by the legendary, Pulitzer Prize–winning Japanese photographer Kyoichi Sawada for United Press International (UPI). The gripping photo shows a group of Viet Cong soldiers carrying a wounded comrade after a fierce encounter with the American First Cavalry near Hoi Ninh, South Vietnam. Shortly after the photo was taken, the soldiers pictured were taken prisoner by the American unit. This lot is especially notable for the complete historical documentation on the reverse: the original yellow-paper typed UPI press release (caption sheet), dated 4 April 1967, including the official newsroom stamps of the Cleveland Press dated 6 April 1967. Photographer: Kyoichi Sawada (1936–1970) / United Press International (UPI) Caption title of the press release: Carry Wounded Comrade Location & Date of capture: Hoi Ninh, South Vietnam – 2 April 1967 Date of press release: 4 April 1967 (Documented via radiophoto credit) Archive stamp: Cleveland Press Reference Dept. (6 April 1967) Technique: Vintage silver gelatin print (Radiophoto / Wirephoto) Condition: In good vintage condition with characteristic signs of editorial archive use (see photos for exact details). The typical texture and scan lines of 1960s radio transmission give the photo a raw, authentic documentary look. Historical Importance and Context The Photographer: Kyoichi Sawada The Japanese photographer Kyoichi Sawada is regarded as one of the most influential war photographers of the 20th century. He was renowned for putting himself at the front lines to capture the human tragedy of the Vietnam War. Sawada won the 1966 Pulitzer Prize for Photography for his iconic image "Flee to Safety," in which a Vietnamese mother wades with her children across a river to escape American bombardments. He also won the prestigious World Press Photo of the Year twice (in 1965 and 1966). Sawada met a tragic end in 1970 when he and colleague Frank Frosch were lured into an ambush during a mission in Cambodia and killed. Original works by his hand are sought after by collectors and museums worldwide. The Event: Hoi Ninh (April 1967) The photo was taken during an especially intense phase of the Vietnam War. The American 1st Cavalry Division conducted large-scale 'Search and Destroy' operations to clear Viet Cong strongholds in the central coastal provinces. This particular photo offers a rare and intimate perspective from "the other side": it shows the loyalty, exhaustion, and acute suffering among Viet Cong fighters just before their capture. What is a Radiophoto / Wirephoto? In the 1960s, the radiophoto was a technological revolution for rapid news reporting. Front-line photos in Saigon were converted to radio signals, transmitted to press service hubs such as the UPI New York Bureau, and then exposed onto photographic paper there. This explains the unique, raw image texture. The presence of the original, clipped typed text strip (caption) and the sequential date stamps from the newspaper newsroom make this object a tangible, museum-worthy piece of media history.

Estimate:£6.85

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