Eugene Smith memorabilia

Smith has been to Japan three times. His first visit was during the Second World War. From 1942 to 1944, Smith was a Pacific War reporter for popular photography magazine and other publishing organizations. 1944, he returned to Life magazine, but this time he was a regular reporter and photographer. With ideals and passion, Smith wanted to take patriotic photos when he first went to the battlefield of World War II. But he was frightened by what he saw. He gave up the idea of distinguishing who is just and who is not, and devoted himself to expressing the fear and struggle brought about by the war he saw.

1944, on Saipan Island in the western Pacific Ocean, Smith wrote "W.Eugene Smith: Phenomenon and Essence", and W.Eugene Smith: "Shadow and Matter: Life and Work of an American Photographer" said: "Every time I press the shutter, it is a curse and condemnation. At the same time, I hope this photo can be circulated for a long time, arousing people's hearts in the future and making them alert, recall and think. " Later, he said: "I hope my photos are not reports of news events, but accusations of war-accusing war of being barbaric and depraved, and cruelly hurting people's spirit and body;" I hope my photos can become a moving and powerful catalyst, a catalyst for thinking-so that such evil and cruel stupidity will never happen again. "

1944, Smith was assigned to the American aircraft carrier Bunker Hill, and filmed the raids on Tokyo, Iwo Jima and Okinawa. His exciting photos constitute an eternal and moving photo album, including a photo of a soldier who rescued a thin, dying baby covered with flies in a cave in Saipan; A photo of an injured soldier lying in Wright Cathedral, wrapped at will; And that photo of the rotting bodies of Japanese soldiers on the coast of Iwo Jima. Smith's photos of the Pacific battlefield during World War II are considered as one of the most serious and powerful war video evidences. On a small ridge off the coast of Okinawa, Smith was hit by a shell fragment, which grazed his left hand, face and mouth. He has been unable to work for two years.