Associated Press Wire Photograph – Cambodian Civilians Taking Cover During Phnom Penh Shootout – February 1971

Description

An original Associated Press wire photograph documenting civilian life amid the escalating conflict in Cambodia during the early years of the Cambodian Civil War.

The image was taken in Phnom Penh on 11 February 1971 and depicts Cambodian civilians sheltering behind a wall during a shootout between South Vietnamese sailors and Cambodian troops. Particularly striking is the presence of a mother breastfeeding her infant child whilst taking cover, a powerful and deeply human scene that contrasts the ordinary realities of family life with the dangers of armed conflict.

The original Associated Press caption records that one Cambodian pedicab driver was killed and fourteen local civilians wounded during the incident. Rather than depicting soldiers in combat, the photograph focuses on the impact of violence upon ordinary civilians caught between armed forces in the Cambodian capital. As such, it represents an important piece of humanitarian and documentary photojournalism from a conflict that is often overshadowed by events in neighbouring Vietnam.

Produced and distributed through the Associated Press wire service for immediate newspaper publication, the photograph survives as an authentic contemporary news image and retains provenance from the photographic archive of the Shields Gazette. It is a compelling visual record of civilian resilience and survival amid one of Southeast Asia’s most turbulent periods.

Condition

Very good condition. Minor edge wear, creasing and handling marks consistent with newspaper archive storage and use. Original Associated Press wire caption attached to the reverse. Shields Gazette archive stamp to the reverse.

Agency: Associated Press (AP)
Date: 11 February 1971
Size: 27.6 x 21.3 cm
Medium: Original wire photograph
Photographer: Not named
Provenance: Shields Gazette photographic archive
Subject: Cambodia, Phnom Penh, Cambodian Civil War, civilians, humanitarian history, photojournalism

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