Crowds Running for Shelter When the Air-raid Alarm Sounded
Crowds Running for Shelter When the Air-raid Alarm Sounded is a black and white photograph taken by Robert Capa in Bilbao, Basque Country, during the Spanish Civil War in May 1937. It is one of the most famous photographs that he took during the conflict.

The picture depicts the moment when a group of people listens to the air-raid alarm, indicating that enemy aviation was approaching for a bombardment. The Basque Country was traditionally a conservative region of Spain but nevertheless was supportive of the Republican government in their struggle against Francisco Franco nationalists and their allies. In this dramatic moment, a woman looks to the sky as she crosses a street with a little girl, most likely her daughter, by her hand. A group of five people, two men and three women, listen also to the air-raid alarm. They don't hide their visible concern as they look to the sky too, except one woman, but still remain quiet. It is uncertain from the picture's point of view if they are able to see any approaching planes. The woman's gaze seems to invite the viewer to imagine what is in the sky.

A paper print of the photograph is held at the International Center of Photography in New York.
Q152524
Robert Capa
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Q8692
Bilbao
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Q3995
Basque Country
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Q10859
Spanish Civil War
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Q47588
Basque Country
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Q29
Spain
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Q29179
Francisco Franco
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Q636942
International Center of Photography
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Q60
New York
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Q97452929
Crowds Running for Shelter When the Air-raid Alarm Sounded
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1937-05-01T00:00:00Z^^http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#dateTime
May 1937
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location
country
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